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‘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.

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Featured image courtesy ABC 4029.

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Comments (426)

Nicolai
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:31pm
Well Done Mr. Hodo. Well Done! We need more Americans like you in this country! You should institute a liberal tax as well. Since they seem to want to tax us into oblivion, we ought to let them pay their share!

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Truthmongering
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:13pm
Mr. Hodo’s words and actions have galvanized support for the River Valley Equality Center’s ideals far more than the fundraiser that was to be held at his establishment ever could have.

Thanks for your help, Mr. Hodo!
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:01am
  Hatemongering – You LGBT freaks have galvanized more support for religious freedom by bullying individuals and groups into accepting you. Excuse me that Americans have a right to pick and choose who to be tolerant of.
  
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asybot12
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:58pm
What this group needs to do after objecting to being compared to the KKK is read it’s own sign that says,
Guess what again???
“Equality for all Humanity”
Hypocrites as usual.

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carl1000
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:51pm
It’s sad how they throw the word “HATE” around?. Just because you don’t like someones lifestyle…you HATE them?? What are we in middle school? These people need to grow up. Using the wrong terms for what is angering them just negates the point they are even trying to make. A lot of people disagree with gun owners. Some want guns to be taken away. Does this mean the HATE gun owners? No. Just Insane.

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- TheContitutionIsFromGod
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:08pm
  The problem with the Liberals, baby murdering abortionists, gay lifestyle by choice, etc etc community is when you start living in sin you try to justify your actions by shoving it in everyones face so as to hopefully get them to accept what you are doing so it doesn’t seem wrong anymore…. sin is sin…Gods laws are un-changing and clear…we can love one another but stand up against sin.. people can try to justify what they do all they want but in the end you are either on Gods side or you are against him. We choose daily whom we serve by our actions… as for me and my house I choose to serve the Lord and his laws.
  
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CrismaFire
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:46pm
Homosexuality is a emotional and mental sickness that needs help curing, like alcoholism and drug addiction. Addicts and alcoholics rarely admit they have a problem same with gays. Restaurant didn’t say gays couldn’t eat there but they couldn’t have a fund raiser for Lesbian group.

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- TheContitutionIsFromGod
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 10:11pm
  Agreed….
  
  Report this comment
- Truthmongering
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:02pm
  Homosexuality was removed from the DSM-II in 1973.
  
  It is not a mental illness.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:52pm
  Hatemongering – Not based on scientific evidence for the removal. But based on political pressure.
  
  Report this comment
TheContitutionIsFromGod
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:39pm
You know..when the pilgrims boarded the ships and came to what now is America they were able to live free and get away from a life they hated… why dont we do a favor for all the gays and put them on ships and send all the boys to one island and the girls to a separate island long ways away without anyway to leave…. as they grow older and start dying they will finally have an awakening moment that they are screwed since they couldn’t populate and continue on…all will be dead after a generation and they will have been able to live there lives full of all the freedom they wanted and we wont have to listen to or see the crap and whining…..works for everyone!!!!

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- GetaClue64
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:48pm
  Wow! Are you a fan of Hitler? I can’t name one of my gay friends who had abnormal childhoods. I invite you to give me the date you chose to be heterosexual…. You obviously can’t stand by your own statement of hating the sin and loving the sinner. You sir are a true hypocrite and it scares the hell out of me that you would be anywhere near one of my children or grandchildren!!!!
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:53pm
  Getaclue – You might want to take your own advice on your screen name. There’s no scientific evidence that homosexuality is born that way.
  
  Report this comment
GetaClue64
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:18pm
How does “choosing” a religion compare with being born black, or Arabic or female or heterosexual or GAY! Let me know when you got the notice to “choose” any of these ! And stating that people are born racist is nothing but ignorance. How many thousands of years has the movement of Christianity forced oppression and committed murder on groups who feel differently, yet when other groups raise their head and say ” but we don’t agree with everything you believe” you cry we are being persecuted for our beliefs. I believe every American citizen that abides by the law deserves equal representation and protection under the law. Yes, everyone has a right to believe the way they choose and to speak about that belief, but no one should be denied equal rights based on a difference. I was raised with Christian beliefs and still adhere to many of those , but one thing I do believe is one day if anyone stands before God and he asks what have you done, and you talk about your great Christian walk yet you have hate in your heart for anyone ( gay or straight) guess who’s not getting in the gates?

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- TheContitutionIsFromGod
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:29pm
  We can separate the SIN from the person….. it is possible to HATE the SIN but love the person…. we dont have to love the sin to be accepted by God but we are to stand for what is right which are Gods Laws… People aren’t born as murderers, lyers, racist, etc…neither are they born GAY… If they have those tendancies they also have the CHOICE to not act on them… chances are a lot of gay people probably experienced something tramatic in their childhood or past that drove them that way…
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 9:04pm
  And there’s no proof that one is born homosexual.
  
  Report this comment
TheContitutionIsFromGod
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:05pm
Add your comments

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gmoss
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:04pm
These of the 1% persuasion allways seem to find businesses that turn them away then they cry discrimination. What the hell there must not be any gay bussinesses out there at all. Just shut the hell up crawl back into the closet and take you business where you are welcome. DUH

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Caniac Steve
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:58pm
i had to laugh as first in oregon a gay couple has to go looking elsewhere for a wedding cake..and now in Arkanas there is no other “gay friendly” facility for them to use in the entire town…how sad..the gay community must feel that a community that size has nowhere to go…oh well..

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Aloha Kaleiohi
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:50pm
Good for them standing up for their rights…..Hopefully their community will support them.

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Jacksureshot
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:50pm
Yo gay people. Stop trying to force your life style as normal on other people. Its becoming so damn annoying. Youre gay? Great for you. Stop telling the world, no one cares one way or the other. Just because we are understsnding of your situation, doesnt mean we are forced to associate with you. Damn people, if you are so desperate for acceptance then your way is truly not the norm . Get over it and move on.

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JasonAREquality
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:31pm
As a former resident of Van Buren, my heart is deeply saddened to see first-hand the blatant misinformation still believed by many of my fellow citizens. The most recent manifestation of injustice has been perpetuated by Mr. Hodo of Sisters Gourmet Bistro in Historic Downtown Van Buren. The River Valley Equality Center was planning a fundraiser for Wednesday, February 13th at the Sister’s Bistro. The profits of this fundraiser are being used to allow RVEC to apply for non-profit status.

RVEC had been planning with Sisters since December for this fundrasier. From the very beginning, RVEC was upfront about its mission and purpose. After a story and picture was circulated in the Times Record covering RVEC’s Awareness Days in which the fundraiser and location were mentioned, Richard Hodo withdrew his offer to host the event. He stated to our Vice-President he was embarrassed by the article and does not support the LGBTQ community. In addition, during the conversation he stated he wanted to be neutral and would turn down a request to host a fundraiser for the KKK. I am thoroughly disgusted by the grouping of RVEC and the KKK. There are absolutely no parallels between our two groups. One advocates hate while the other advocates justice and equality.

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- JasonAREquality
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:32pm
  When it comes to the inalienable rights of humans, no one is neutral. You have three choices – stand up for all people’s rights, actively seek to deny rights, or stand by and allow those actively discriminating against other humans in which case you participate through supplication.
  
  After the initial anger and disappointment have subsided, I looked inward to see what Mr. Hodo may have been experiencing. In understanding we are struggling against injustice and not specific people, I can appreciate the pressure Mr. Hodo is under. He has customers and friends with deep held misconceptions about the LGBTQ community and our mission. He may even believe many of these misconceptions. His motivations and beliefs are irrelevant in this discussion. RVEC and my goal is to reconcile with these vary people. We all have a piece of the truth and when we all respect and share our truths, we get to the greater truth.
  
  I will not speak to the principles of Mr. Hodo, his customers, and friends. What I would like to highlight are my principles and the principles most of my friends who are part of the LGBTQ community live our lives by: Love, Humility, Honesty, Willingness, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, and Service to name a few. These are the same principles I was taught growing up in Church. I would like to invite Mr. Hodo, his customers, and friends to see we hold the same values. Sexuality does not change any of these principles. Love is love regardless of who it is directed towa
  
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- JasonAREquality
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:42pm
  Love is love regardless of who it is directed toward. All values are personal and are practiced independently of sexuality, race, gender, age, or nationality.
  
  It is truly my hope someday we can all understand this fact. We can hold the same values, morals, and principles while having a different sexuality, race, gender, age, and nationality. We are all humans and part of the same universal family.
  
  Report this comment
- zapparules
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:33pm
  THANK YOU.
  
  Unfortunately much of what you said will be lost on the vast majority of the crowd that reads and posts on this site but… I for one appreciate your efforts to ‘enlighten’ others.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:57pm
  So being a sick sexual deviant is equal to being heterosexual? LOL
  
  And there’s no scientific evidence that homosexuality is born that way.
  
  Report this comment
publicas
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:21pm
Guess they’ll be packing fudge elsewhere?

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- MarioSmario
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 4:17pm
  I doubt they intended to have sex on the tables, but thanks for your enlightened contribution to the freedom debate.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:58pm
  Mariosmario – You’re contributing to tyranny by forcing the business to accept individuals or groups of people that they don’t want to associate with.
  
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Desertlakesflying
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:49pm
It doesn’t matter if it is KKK or LGBT, they both choose to participate in their activities on a daily basis and the civil rights of both are the same. Should the KKK go out and protest for the right to hang as they please because they were born racist? It’s exactly the same as the militant demands of the LGBT community. Claiming they are born that way, is in fact, discriminating against many religions, but they don’t seem to care now do they? LGBT and civil rights causes have nothing to do with each other. LGBT does not give you special civil rights. Being of faith, color, creed, etc does. It’s like saying driving a car is a civil right.

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- zapparules
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 9:34pm
  Clueless
  
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- Truthmongering
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 11:08pm
  Racists are MADE, not born. No child is born with hatred in its heart.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:55pm
  Hatemonger – Looks like you’re the one who has hatred in your heart for anybody who doesn’t think or live like you do while hypocritically shoving tolerance and diversity down our throats.
  
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pepper62
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:46pm
There are signs all over Americas restraunts…”no shoes, no shirts, no service” isn’t that discrimination against the shoeless and the shirtless??? So sad when people feel left out…ah..poor them…wah wah wah!!!

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Todd P
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:44pm
“I HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE TO ANYONE”

Amen, and ’nuff said!

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el polacko
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:34pm
hallelujah !! we can start turning away blacks from lunch counters again !!! just the way jesus wanted it.

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EllieR
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:27pm
On the topic of compassion:

If being gay is “normal” and “natural,” why should I feel compassion towards gays? I should not.
If being gay is NOT normal, if it is, say, a mental disorder, the most compassionate thing will be psychiatric treatment, not encouragement and surely not alteration of our Constitution to accommodate abnormal behavior of mentally ill individuals.

I don’t feel guilty for not feeling particularly compassionate towards this specific group and their agenda just because the Lefties want me to.

As for the owner of that establishment, I sincerely hope he would not apologize for his actions tomorrow.

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- el polacko
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:40pm
  who the heck wants your ‘compassion;’ (such as it is) or your judgements for that matter ? all that decent, tax-paying american citizens who happen to be gay are asking for is equal treatment under the law…just as promised in the constitution.
  
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- EllieR
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:03pm
  El PO…
  Who the heck wants my compassion? Obviously some posters, here. Read the whole discussion before making your ignorant comments. Also, what part of the Constitution was violated by the restaurant owner? What law?
  
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grimjack3791
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:19pm
““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.”

Well then, Ms. Sarrrubo, if that is what you “felt” then you are either intellectually dishonest, deliberately misunderstanding, or an idiot. Feel free to choose.

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OBAMA IS A FOUL EVIL TRAITOR
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:16pm
The Sodomites are coming! LOCK AND LOAD!!!

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- el polacko
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:35pm
  sick. really, dude. seek help.
  
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- publicas
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 8:24pm
  They are already cocked and loaded! Really, what’s the difference between the LGBT, KKK and DNC? NUTHIN’!!
  
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Timberline
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:09pm
“I felt like he was comparing us as equals with the KKK…..”

the comparison is apt: they’re both hate groups

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- wowjustwow
  Posted on February 8, 2013 at 7:40pm
  Hate group?? You are clueless. Stay in your bubble.
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 9, 2013 at 11:59pm
  Wow – I know that the truth hurts. The LGBT groups hate freedom and Christianity.
  
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wowjustwow
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:59pm
He doth protest too much. How long are you guys going to STAY in that closet?

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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on February 10, 2013 at 12:00am
  And you don’t protest much, hypocrite? Get over it that people can pick and choose who they want to be tolerant of and accept.
  
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Gargent_Furball
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:57pm
Good for the restaurant . I’m tired of this Scrap. Wanna wear pink, go for it. Just don’t shove in my face.

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dodgedart1966
Posted on February 8, 2013 at 6:55pm
“I felt like he was comparing us as equals with the KKK…..”
You are.
You are an organized group that he doesn’t agree with. It’s that simple.
Go meet somewhere else. Also that simple.

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