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.”
Wonder if he has a recently upgraded insurance policy.
I am certain that would be fine with him. Very few people deal with every type of immorality in the same way.
These discussions always seem cloudy to me, perhaps because I am Jewish and I think back to the not so distant past where it was considered moral to exclude Jews and blacks along similar thought processes.
Sad part is that someone speaks up and he’s attacked by our side and then those same people can’t understand why we keep losing these battles
My thoughts also as I read some of the posts.
He said openly homosexual. I guess that he means when two flamers come in and start acting up he refuses them.
When are more going to speak out against the homostapo instead of being cowards because they want a peaceful life and just want to get along?
Our side has far too many who just want to stay silent and reach out. The same people who won’t defend the religious law or mention how the homostapo is demanding special rights, hell these same people won’t even mention to a pollsters if they think we should have homosexual marriage.
It’s pathetic.
Yes. It's called having the courage of one's convictions. I find it laudable.
I think we sometimes make the unfortunate mistake of unconsciously equating our sturdy American heritage and valiant American ancestors with the current pathetic crop that makes up our country’s populace, which happily and spinelessly cowtows to tyranny and wallows in its moral depravity.
Our American forefathers would spit on us. And deservedly so.
From the article: "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.”"
He's pretty clear he doesn't want any gay patrons period. Posting a sign spares him the likelyhood of one sneaking through.
His business, his life.
He gets respect for standing up which is rare today in the homostapo nation we live in.
They risked their lives for this nation, now we have become a nation of shutting up against a small group called the homosexuals .
If the founding fathers saw what we had become they would turn in their graves.
And the reason this country is in the shape it's in.
I agree completely. He isn't breaking the law in any way, shape or form so he is free to do and say what he wants.
He gets respect for standing up which is rare today in the homostapo nation we live in.
That depends on your point of view. I support completely his right to say what he wants and run his business as he wants, but bigotry is bigotry and just being open about it doesn't make me respect you for it.
Because he’s giving tacit approval to one sin while disapproving of another. Christians are called to reject all sin, not just some.
No the difference is that those who are cheating , lying etc are not asking for special rights or getting in your face, or even having businesses closed.
This man stood up and spoke out and yet some on our side attack him . it truly is down right shameful.
I think you nailed it.
My impression is that he’s made no such distinction in his statement.
There is only so much one can say so instead of some attacking him and being cowards then maybe they should respect him for standing up for his convictions whether you or I agree with him.
Let's look at that word and see where we go.
big·ot·ry
ˈbiɡətrē/
noun
noun: bigotry; plural noun: bigotries
intolerance toward those who hold different opinions from oneself.
"the difficulties of combating prejudice and bigotry"
in·tol·er·ance
ˌinˈtäl(ə)rəns/
noun
noun: intolerance; plural noun: intolerances
unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own.
"a struggle against religious intolerance"
synonyms: bigotry, narrow-mindedness, small-mindedness, illiberality, parochialism, provincialism;
I do believe that I must confess to bigotry for there is quite a bit I am unwilling to accept. Of course, then we would need to agree on what does "accept" mean.
Consider that states used to all have sodomy laws. We neither tolerated nor accepted it.
Yea people with convictions must have that interior motive.
How about more speak out instead of cowering to the homostapo or is that too much from some on our side. Hell maybe we should just do what they say and go along with it and shut up. The we can attack our own and help the homostapo pass it’s agenda quicker.
sarc
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