"I have the right to refuse service to anyone," owner says
A gay rights group had their reservations cancelled by the owner of
Sisters Gourmet Bistro in Van Buren, Arkansas, who compared their
organization to the KKK.
The River Valley Equality Center had booked the restaurant for a fundraiser, but they were later called by the owner Richard Hodo, who told them "we're not going to have that at Sisters."
"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," Hodo said. "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," said Hodo. "This is a private club and I have the right to refuse service to anyone."
The restaurant acted perfectly legally, since Arkansas has no law protecting gays and lesbians against discrimination. In other states, the restaurateur's action would likely breach anti-discrimination laws. In a similar recent case in Oregon, a baker is being investigated for breaching the state's equality statute after he refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.
The River Valley Equality Center had booked the restaurant for a fundraiser, but they were later called by the owner Richard Hodo, who told them "we're not going to have that at Sisters."
"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," Hodo said. "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," said Hodo. "This is a private club and I have the right to refuse service to anyone."
The restaurant acted perfectly legally, since Arkansas has no law protecting gays and lesbians against discrimination. In other states, the restaurateur's action would likely breach anti-discrimination laws. In a similar recent case in Oregon, a baker is being investigated for breaching the state's equality statute after he refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.
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