PIZZERIA BANS HOMOPHOBIC LAWMAKERS

A pizza restaurant in Arizona has banned Republican legislators after they passed a bill that will allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians.

If signed by Governor Jan Brewer, the so-called “Religious Freedom” bill will entitle businesses and service providers in the American state to refuse to serve gays and lesbians if they believe that it is against their religious beliefs to do so.

In response, Rocco’s Little Chicago Pizzeria in Tuscon announced that it would turn away any of the anti-gay lawmakers who approved the pending law.

“As a longtime employer and feeder of the gay community, Rocco’s reserves the right to eject any State Senators we see fit to kick out…” said the restaurant on social media.

It also posted a photo of a sign at the establishment announcing: “We reserve the right to refuse service to Arizona legislators.” The picture has been liked over 14,000 times on Facebook.

Speaking to Huffington Post, owner Anthony Rocco DiGrazia said: “A customer posted the sign to my Facebook feed, so I printed it up and laminated it. The response has been overwhelming and almost all positive from across the globe.

“I just want to serve dinner and own and work in a place I’m proud of. Opening the door to government-sanctioned discrimination, regardless of why, is a huge step in the wrong direction,” he said.

Governor Brewer, who is a member of the Republican Party, commented on Saturday that she had not yet decided whether to approve or veto the bill. “I don’t have to make a decision until next Friday so I’ve got plenty of time. I need to explore it,” she said.

A number of other US states are considering introducing similar laws.