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.”
Personally, I think a business owner should be able to refuse service to anybody for any reason. As a business owner myself, I don’t ask who my clients are screwing. It isn’t any of my business.
I’ll bet you don’t share your freeper name as well...out of common courtesy, of course!
If someone was divorced because their spouse cheated, that person could marry again(not the former spouse) and not sin. I think the business owner was speaking of such open obvious immoral behavior from gay people occurring in front of him that he would not tolerate in his presence.
His shop, his rules.
Depends on who you listen to. Luke says no, Matthew says yes.
I think the business owner was speaking of such open obvious immoral behavior from gay people occurring in front of him that he would not tolerate in his presence.
He made it clear in the article that his preference was for no gay people period. But as people have pointed out it's his store and his decision, and he's not breaking the law in any way.
Both are correct...but Matthew further clarifies...”except for sexual immorality”.
A man divorces a woman because of something other than her unchasteness, and marries another commits adultery. Who ever marries the divorced woman commits adultery....unless the man who divorced her has already married first there fore committing the adulterous act that broke the first marriage apart. If the wrongfully divorced woman had remained chaste until her ex had wrongfully married the second time, then the wronged woman is free to marry again. I think that’s why we see the clarification for “for sexual immorality” in Matthew. If the woman committed adultery and the husband divorces her, he is free to remarry and she needs to repent and be renewed. Adultery was seen as evil as the sin of witchcraft as it is rebellion against God’s order as it absolutely can destroy and bring death and destruction to a marriage.
There are no other real reasons acceptable to God for divorce and he has said “I hate divorce”. A woman can separate for her protection from an abusive man, but scripturally she can’t divorce him...just live chaste and separate from him.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_antisemitism_in_the_United_States
Http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/holocaust/filmmore/description.html
We are left with two options. You are either ignorant in the facts of the matter or worse.
It is not an issue anymore to any large extent, but it existed and was strong until about 50 years ago.
Does acknowledging these facts mean that I am claiming victim status? No, but in my parent’s generation, discrimination against Jews in America was a fact of life.
Just because it wasn’t as bad a situation as in Europe doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.
I was there today to support the Christian against the homosexuals. There was a protest scheduled for 12 till 2pm. The Christians had BBQ, music and even went and took food and bottles of water to the protestors. I and another vet were interviewed.
The gay supporters where a sorry bunch, mostly young girls (I think)
The Christian owner was supported by 50?, about the same size as the protest group. It was good to see COURAGEOUS CONSERVATISM STAND UP AND BE SUPPORTED.
URRRRAAAHHH
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.