Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Listen to the Buck Sexton Show Live on TheBlaze Radio

Business

‘I Have the Right to Refuse Service’: Restaurant Owner Turns Away Group After He Learns What They Advocate

Feb. 8, 2013 4:04pm Becket Adams

Sisters Gourmet Bistro Cancels Gay Rights Groups Reservations, Cries of Discrimination Follow

(friendseat.com )

An Arkansas-based gay right’s organization is claiming discrimination after the owner of a restaurant cancelled the group’s reservations.

“It was a bump in the road, but it wasn’t a slap in the face,” River Valley Equality Center Director Erin Fowler tells ABC 4029, explaining that they had hoped to host a fundraiser at the restaurant.

Fowler claims Sisters Gourmet Bistro in Van Buren, Ark., cancelled their reservations after its owner discovered what the group stood for.

“I called them and told them that I — we’re not going to have that at Sisters, we had no plans for that and there were no reservations to hold any kind of fundraiser or anything like that,” said owner Richard Hodo.

“I told them that I do not support their cause, that if they want to do that that’s their business. I do not care, but I don’t support their lifestyle and their cause,” he added.

Hodo told an organizer with the River Valley Equality Center that he runs a private business and that he reserves the right to deny any group or person service — whether that means saying “no” to white supremacists or a gay rights group.

“What I told the lady on the on the phone, look I said if the KKK came here and wanted to hold a fundraiser rally and all that, I wouldn’t allow that either,” said Hodo.

“It felt like he was comparing us as equals with the KKK and we’re about completely opposite things,” said Sarah Sarrubbo, an organizer with the River Valley Equality Center.

Hodo says he refuses to back down.

“This is a private club and I have the right to refuse service to anyone,” he said.

The River Valley Equality Center says that because of this incident, and the dent it has put their fundraising efforts, they will stage an “awareness event” nearby.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image courtesy ABC 4029.

Benghazi, IRS, AP...What's next? Only TheBlaze TV offers the truth from Glenn Beck, Andrew Wilkow, and Real News from TheBlaze. Get instant access and a free trial here.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (426)

Timberline
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:47pm
the queer attack has begun already. the restaurant’s website is down an they’re in full ASSault on the restaurant’s facebook page.

such a lovely display of the tolerance they claim to preach /sarcasm

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
YallComeBack
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:47pm
quote- “It felt like he was comparing us as equals with the KKK and we’re about completely opposite things,” said Sarah Sarrubbo, an organizer with the River Valley Equality Center.

Uhhhh. Logic is beyond the liberal brain. They only live by emotion and cliche.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
reportanddeport
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:45pm
The restaurant WILL be sued by the ACLU, and the success of the suit will depend nothing on the law, but on whether or not the judge supports the gay agenda. But it is good that someone had the courage to stand up to the gay mafia.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
neverending
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:41pm
Happening more and more just like the Company that did not want to bake the cake. Private business and they have the right to run it the way they want to – at least that is how it used to be but with the commie in charge we will see this sort of thing run rampant and I am sure a lot of them will be setups. Pretty sickening indeed but here it all comes.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
shorelineliz
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:38pm
Who holds a fundraiser at a restaurant anyway?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- spirited
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:45pm
  Actually, lots of fundraisers are held at resturants and bars.
  Often to raise money for someone’s child’s kidney transplant…
  
  >Usually an establishment is asked “if” such and such a fundraiser may be held there ~~> first.
  
  Report this comment
Speakthetruth777
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:29pm
I stand on the side of the owner. I’m tired of the double standard, the gays can protest and get their way. But anyone who disagrees with them are demonized and everyone grills them. I believe that homosexuality is a sin, because it says so in the Bible, and that it is one of the reasons our nation is falling apart. Flame me if you want but I don’t care. And to @Mr. Potter, you need your head examined. You’d let the KKK near your business?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
we_speak_with_fire
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:22pm
Harrypooper, I’m sure youvwere one of the people clapping cheering when the waiter refused service to the dipstick making fun of the Downs syndrome boy saying special people need to be special somewhere else. Well if you can refuse service to someone being a complete asshat you can’t say you have to serve this one because you disagree with his line he drew. Open up a lgbt restaurant, sounds like there’s a market for it if the gays refuse to go to this establishment.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DoOrDie
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:18pm
Why doesn’t the group hold their meeting in a gay and lesbian restaurant? I don’t agree with their lifestyles either and wouldn’t let them hold it in my business. I have that right. Take your business elsewhere. Aren’t gays supposed to be Happy Happy Happy? These liberals are just looking for a reason to sue someone and put them out of business. Thank you lawyers and judges, you have f_ed this country up.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
CommonSenseTalk
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:16pm
The GOP could learn from this man. This guy is smart and knows how to deal with the left. As long as he keep saying, so is it ok to support the KKK in every sentence, he will win this fight. You will never get the news or group to say, yes the KKK should have the same rights as gays in America.

Good to see one person stand up to the left media machine. I’m sure this is not over but as long as he keeps comparing them to unfriendly groups he will win. If the gay group wins then he just puts a KKK group on the other side of his business on the same day. He can’t lose this one. Good for him.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:47pm
  Amen to that.
  
  Report this comment
clintwelker
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:13pm
I have tried to have civil discussions about this with many of my acquaintances and people online. It comes down to some of us believe it is a moral issue, and that being gay is a choice. We believe God has set the moral standard and we want to follow it. Those is opposition immediately say we are full of hate, are ignorant, and sometimes racist. They say that our faith and religion can’t be used in the argument. Most are completely intolerant of our opinion.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
bdandsl
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:11pm
We have the right to not associate or do business with those we don’t want to associate with.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
MrKnowItAll
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:00pm
May they ALL be CURSED with Bleeding Hemorrhoids!
May their Nozzle be Stricken with Puss!
May they EAT Dingle Berry Pie!
May they all Pray that I never catch one touching a Child!
May I remind you all. There are only 2% of these Sick Bastards in the U.S.A.! Thank GOD!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Helen Hyde
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:56pm
  Why dont you say what you really mean?
  LOL
  
  Report this comment
aldol
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:59pm
good for them
political correctness is a form of cowardice

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PoliticallyRightUs.Com
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:55pm
You want to talk morality @HarryPotter??? Try the Morality of being GAY, Being against GOD, How about the fact that High suicide rates and drug uses at attached to being gay!!!
Not to mention the fact that is turns my stomach and makes me want to through up everytime I have to look at 2 guys kissing or worse… I have a right NOT to have to see that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How dare you and your kind shove this garbage down my (and my families) throat!!!!!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- checkingbothsides
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:57pm
  Did you ever consider that your attitude is part of the reason that suicide amongst homosexuals is so high? Kind of hard to live in a society where just by being who you were born makes people “want to throw up.”
  
  Report this comment
- TheGrtDcptn
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:47pm
  ‘Did you ever consider that your attitude is part of the reason’
  
  B*llSh*t…!! If that had an ounce of truth, not ONE person would make it past their teen years. If hurtful words are responsible for suicidal deaths we’d ALL be dead. The only one responsible for you is YOU…
  
  …what a cop out…
  
  Placing blame on others for the choices of those they disagree with…
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:49pm
  Checkingbothsides – So you have to thought and speech police people in order to get your way. People who commit suicide are the ones solely responsible for doing so.
  
  Report this comment
spirited
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:53pm
Considering the sincere (couch) concern and support for freedom
of speech, thought, choice…, and people –in general–

if a space in the building where Sisters resturant is located
becomes rent-available

> that group might decide to make it their headquarters.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- CommonSenseTalk
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:23pm
  Yes the KKK should rent the space
  
  Report this comment
- spirited
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:40pm
  Doesn’t the KKK usually meet in undisclosed locations, unless they make a public protest?
  
  Report this comment
LightOfReason
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:51pm
Good for him!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Mr Sanders
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:49pm
Here’s the deal… straight-up….

Owner = The Boss = The Buck Stops Here = Biz would not be there without Owner

Owner has the right to refuse service to anyone. I’m sure that they realize the potential profits they would be foregoing but obviously personal beliefs, in this case, trumped profits.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ghandi was a Republican
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:49pm
The Gay community has allowed Liberals to subjugate them as a political tool of division (organizing).
It is not about “Gay rights”. It is about allowing them to subjugate yourself along with them. You can see that either way the Restaurateur is forced into the political game being played.
The establishment has every right to say, Thanks, but no thanks. Seems that was the response.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Azzman
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:40pm
Raise awareness for what. that you’re cuckoo for coca puffs?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PeteOH
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:40pm
A business owner can absolutely pick who he wants to do business with. Just like a restaurant demands that men wear a jacket. Or if a family restaurant tells a group of Hells Angels “not here”, this restaurant can decide not to serve. It wasn’t because they were black or handicapped… which are both natural “conditions” and would therefore be discriminatory.. This group is not in that class. Their “condition” is not natural. It’s a choice and deviant to nature and God. And, certainly, a business owner may not want to identity his business with those people. As either a business choice or moral one, the business should have the right to refuse. Sorry libs.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
barber2
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:40pm
Isn’t it amazing how far the Discrimination Card can be used by the Far Left ? From civil / voting rights to home loans for the ” poor minorities ” … to gay rights and atheists…any ” minority” group ? Now it’s homosexuality which has been considered immoral for thousands of years. More of the ” change” that the Chicago radicals promised. Wonder what will be the next cause or agenda that will be pushed under the mantle of the ” discrimination card ?”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- checkingbothsides
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:55pm
  The ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians would like to have a word with you about homosexuality being considered sinful for “thousands of years.”
  
  Report this comment
- barber2
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:07pm
  CHECKING: I was referring to the past two thousand years of Western Christian culture. Guess that is why so many gays hate Christianity.
  
  Report this comment
Whiteeagle
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:39pm
Bravo! Bravo ! … We should All … go Private ….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
bluntforce
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:29pm
There are plenty of eateries that are run by homosexuals that these fine folks could gather at. As usual, “Big Gay” is using an innocent civilian as their poster child for more “rights” to be handed out to them. Talk about “hate” groups….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
p51d007
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:28pm
Good! It is a PRIVATE business, he has the RIGHT to refuse service to ANYONE.
More people need to stand up to these rainbow clowns.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
hempstead1944
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 5:26pm
It is still America…..at least for a little while longer and, since it is, he still does have the right to refuse or provide service to anyone he wishes…….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.