T-Shirt Maker Who Refused to Print Gay Pride Shirts Is Being Punished — but These Lesbian Business Owners Reveal Why They're Supporting Him

Kathy Trautvetter and Diane DiGeloromo, a lesbian couple who own and operate BMP T-shirts, a New Jersey-based printing company, sat down with Glenn Beck Thursday night to explain why they are standing up for an embattled Christian printer who refused to make shirts for a gay pride festival.

Trautvetter and DiGeloromo have openly defended the right of Blaine Adamson, owner of Hands on Originals, a Kentucky-based T-shirt company, to decline an order for the Gay and Lesbian Services Organization of Lexington — a refusal that local officials in Lexington say violates the law.

"I know how hard it is to build a business and it's very personal," Trautvetter said, noting that she put herself in Adamson's position and felt compelled to defend him. "You put your blood and your sweat and your tears into every bit of it."

DiGeloromo said that the couple has received positive responses thus far from the public for taking a stand in support of Adamson and his religious conscience, despite the fact that they clearly have ideological disagreements with him when it comes to sexuality.

Kathy Trautvetter and Diane DiGeloromo, a lesbian couple who own and operate BMP T-shirts, talk with Glenn Beck (TheBlaze)

"We feel this really isn't a gay or straight issue. This is a human issue," DiGeloromo said. "No one really should be forced to do something against what they believe in. It's as simple as that."

She said that if BMP T-shirts were to be approached by the virulently anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, for instance, that the couple would not want to provide services to the group.

"I highly doubt we would be doing business with them," DiGeloromo said. "We would be very angry if we were forced to do so."

Trautvetter and DiGeloromo also said that they don't understand why couples would want a wedding cake — or any service for that matter — from someone who is staunchly opposed to providing it.

"Everybody votes with their dollars," Trautvetter said. "People shop where they want to shop because they're comfortable with that retailer and why you'd want to go with somebody who doesn't agree with you — and there's others who do agree with you — that's who I want to do business with."

Beck praised the women for having the conversation, noting that it's important for people to be decent to one another regardless of their disagreements. Trautvetter agreed, claiming that she sees a divisive gap widening in society and is hoping to help bridge the divide.

"We want everybody to at least get it a little closer. Let us understand each other," she said. "I put myself in [Adamson's] place and I hope that some of the Christian right and the people who enjoy your show would do the same for us. Try to understand what our lives are like."

Watch the segment below:

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Also, be sure to read our interview with Trautvetter from earlier this week.