Posted on 04/16/2015 9:45:08 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
GRANDVILLE, Mich. (WOOD) — The owner of a Grandville auto repair shop says he won’t hesitate “to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons.”
Brian Klawiter, the owner of Dieseltec on Ottawa Avenue in Grandville, posted the statement to his company’s Facebook page on Tuesday because he says the voices of those who have Christian, conservative values are often overshadowed by those who do not.
“I want to have a voice about this,” Klawiter told 24 Hour News 8 Wednesday. “I want to be heard about this… It’s challenging to decide to say I’m on the opposing side of what’s seen as the popular view.”
The post in question starts with “Enough is enough.”
“Apparently if you are white (or close to it), you have a job, go to church, and own a gun…That translates into racist, privileged, bigot… Our rights as conservative Americans are being squashed more and more everyday…” the post reads in part.
The line that’s drawing the most conversation is the one that addresses “openly gay” individuals.
“I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period,” Klawiter wrote. “If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works.”
The post had gotten a couple dozen comments and about two dozen shares as of Wednesday evening. Many commenters criticized his views, but some were supportive.
While Klawiter acknowledges that the post could be viewed as offensive, he says he doesn’t regret writing it.
“I think I exercised a little more freedom than I would on a news broadcast,” Klawiter said of his post, adding that he didn’t expect the post to get the attention it has. “If you have a vehicle that needs to be repaired, we’d be happy to do that for you. But if you want to come in here with your boyfriend and you want to openly display that, that’s just not going to be tolerated here. We don’t believe that here.”
Klawiter says he isn’t asking clientele about their sexuality, but is emphatic that he won’t tolerate “outward” affectionate behavior between same-sex couples.
Asked to consider his post from the eyes of a person who is gay, Klawiter responded:
“I think it would be made pretty clear to me that I’m not welcome there, which I would almost consider that enlightening. I would know exactly where not to go.”
Discrimination based on sexual orientation has not been outlawed in Michigan, though several municipalities have local ordinances on the matter. Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids are among the West Michigan cities that have ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Grandville, however, has no such ordinance.
Grandville Mayor Steve Maas said he’s open to discussing one, but that the citizens would have to ask for it.
“There are many people who have deeply held, sincerely held, very conservative religious and political beliefs. But on the other hand, that same group of people is a very kind group of people that does not tolerate bigotry and intolerance, so it would be very interesting to see that debate,” Maas said.
Klawiter is among those who doesn’t think the city should have a non-discrimination ordinance that includes sexual orientation.
“I’ve chosen to put God first in my life and that he owns everything in me and my business and beyond,” Klawiter said. “Since that becomes a priority, I can’t sacrifice on those morals.”
or people who have ever told a lie....or coveted their neighbors honda
Hmmmm, seems like someone who is either looking to cash in with a “Go Fund Me” drive like the pizza shop got, or is tired of his business and would like to be shut down.
Or people who do not honor their father and mother... or those who do not keep the Sabbath...
Seems like it would be easy enough to contact him and find out.
I predict that if he chooses to follow the letter of the law...that his Business will immediately fall off RATHER precipitously!!
So all of you gays out there driving big diesel rigs, be forewarned!
I am certain that would be fine with him. Very few people deal with every type of immorality in the same way.
These discussions always seem cloudy to me, perhaps because I am Jewish and I think back to the not so distant past where it was considered moral to exclude Jews and blacks along similar thought processes.
Someone fishing for a GoFundMe of their own?
I’ve always found it good policy to take off the purple tutu and the toe shoes before taking my truck in for some engine work. It’s just common courtesy.
> I wonder if he would also refuse to service married people having an affair, or even unmarried people who have pre-marital sex....
Well those types pobably aren’t demanding that he fix their vehicle while prissing around in homonazi attire daring him to refuse them now are they?
Those are fair questions.
But I think the gentleman is referring to two homosexuals displaying their perversions openly and shamefully in view of paying customers and employees.
I’m sure he would apply the same standards on a married woman scrooing another man in view of paying customers and employees.
I could be wrong, but that’s my impression.
I don’t know but the fact that those people are not asking for special rights while taking religious rights away might have something to do with it.
He also states which conservatives do that we are fed up of hearing how we are bigoted because we are white and go to work while homosexuals want their special rights and be classed as the victims.
So what if he would refuse to deny service to a couple who are having an affair, what the hell has that got to do with it.
Seems like most here don’t know what “openly” gay means.
or maybe he has some balls and is speaking up unlike many cowards on our side who thinks their business or friendships will now be closed down.
who cares, are the people lying asking for special rights, No course not. Homosexuals are.
“I wonder if he would also refuse to service married people having an
affair,or even unmarried people who have pre-marital sex....”
In a free country he has that right.
stunned.
A man speaks out against this homostapo and now some on here are asking absurd questions like would he refuse service to people who lie or cheat.
No wonder we have nearly a nation of cowards when people can;t speak up and then when they do they are attacked
Does Dearborn have protections for homosexuals?
I really don’t know if anyone is homosexual unless I see him committing sodomy, in which case I would throw him out of my business too.
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