Calif.winery aplologizes for refusing to host gay wedding

[Demovictory9]

The owner of Viaggio Winery in Lodi is apologizing after receiving backlash for refusing to host a Sacramento couple's gay wedding.

"I am sincerely sorry to have caused anyone pain at a time that should be joyous," owner Teri Lawrence said in a statement.

According to Dezanea Reyes, she and her fiancée Alex Biddle, reached out to the wedding venue for their upcoming wedding.

She said she received an email response from Viaggio that read in part, "While Viaggio Winery welcomes your business, we have never hosted a same-sex marriage." The email said the owner has "a very strong personal religious belief regarding marriage, which is for marriage to be between heterosexual couples only."

Instead of hosting Reyes and Bittle's ceremony, the winery offered to host the cocktail hour, dinner and reception. The winery would not host the wedding ceremony itself because it would violate the owners' personal religious beliefs.
https://m.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Lodi-winery-apologizes-after-refusing-to-host-gay-14434195.php

[irisblue]

1. The owner has realized she is losing money

From the article

Snip-"The winery's decision created an uproar. On Wednesday, the owner issued an apology that reads in part:

"Our staff, our customers and our community have helped me see that I was wrong. Our policy has been changed, effective immediately. All couples are welcome to hire out facilities for weddings and the celebrations that go with them," said Lawrence." (Money has apparently won out over religious belief)


Snip-"However, Levy said it's too little too late.

"That's not an apology. That's damage control," she said.

[wasupaloopa]

2. I never understand the personal beliefs thing. Religion was one of the supports for slavery and

segregation.

I hate to see religion inch closer to establishing itself in our laws as an exception to the idea that all of us are created equal.

Religion does not trump equal rights. If your religion does not allow you do host gay weddings get out of the business of hosting weddings.

[Phoenix61]

3. So they'll take their money for the most

expensive part of the whole wedding show but not allow the actual reason for any of it to be held there. That actually makes it worse then refusing to host any of it.

[Raven123]

4. Huh?

It’s not the gay marriage that bothered them, just the wedding? How does one reconcile taking money for a cocktail hr, dinner, and reception for celebrating an occasion that “violates the owners’ religious beliefs” ? Worshipping in the church of the almighty dollar, I assume.

[OriginalGeek]

5. And the old fundamentalist baptist me wonders

how religious can you be if you own a winery? Liquor is the Devil!

[Celerity]

7. Water into wine and all that....

But.....

[OriginalGeek]

9. lol my church said they meant grape juice.

EVERY other word in the King James Version of the bible was 100% inspired and literal word of god. Except "wine".

Glad I got out of that!

Oh and yes, i would consider anyone an antichrist if they turned wine ito water lol.

[Zambero]

6. Homophobia at a California winery does not make for a good business model

There are quite a few wineries in that region. A lot of potential customers will be taking their business elsewhere.

[Kid Berwyn]

8. They're gonna have to change the label.

Once they do, boycott that brand, as well.