Given the breathtaking explosion of the antigay welfare program centered around crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo and GoFundMe (which raises some interesting questions, as well, about how these ventures decide what campaigns to allow or not, since they collect substantial fees based on how much money is raised), Waldo has rolled up his sleeves to offer a running report on developments.
Check back often, and pass along news in our Comments section, below!
1.
James Boggess
April 18: $1,260 from 60 donors.
April 19- $1540 from 72 donors, up $280 from twelve new givers.
April 21: $1875 from 86 donors.
April 22: $1885 from 88 donors.
April 23: Nothing.
April 24: $1895 fro 89 donors.
April 25: Nothing.
1.
Aaron and Melissa Klein
dba Sweet Cakes by Melissa
Undisclosed location, Gresham, OR
Victimization: Claimed persecution by angry gay thugs for refusing to bake a wedding cake for two lesbians; cited by State of Oregon for violation of state antidiscrimination law, found guilty, and facing a proposed penalty of $135,000 in damages.
Harm suffered: Suffering for their faith; many media engagements and speaking events before sympathetic audiences.
Crowdfunding option(s): See below.
Campaign Start:
1. Gofundme.com campaign opened February 11, 2015; closed by gofundme.com April 25, 2015.
2. Gofundme.com campaign opened April 24, 2015; closed by gofundme.com April 24, 2015
3. Samaritan's Purse campaign opened April 25, 2015.
Fundraising results:
1. The first gofundme.com campaign raised $65 from three donors.
2. The second gofundme.com campaign raised $109,000 in one day. Although the campaign has been closed, the Kleins will still get the money.
3. The Franklin Graham/Samaritan's Purse campaign is not disclosing any fundraising data.
Backstory:
In January 2013 the Kleins refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple planning a wedding in Oregon. Aaron Klein told one of the two their children were an "abomination to the Lord", and the Kleins have pursued a high profile media campaign that portrays them as the victims of the lesbians, who- having avoided publicity- have been hounded by media and individuals so much that an Oregon administrative law judge awarded them $135,000 in damages Friday. A link to the decision, which lays out the facts in remarkable detail, is here. The case is under review by the Director of the Bureau of Labor & Industries, whom the Kleins tried to disqualify for not being antigay enough to be fair to them, and can then be reviewed by Oregon appellate courts.
The Heritage Foundation, a one-time policy think tank now run by former SC senator Jim DeMint, has adopted the Kleins as a pet project:
The first Gofundme.com campaign has this narrative:
The owners of Gresham bakery, "Sweet Cakes by Melissa" bakery will have to pay a gay couple up to $150,000, BOLI spokesman Charlie Burr said. The exact amount will be determined at a hearing on March 10.
In Jan. 2013, Laurel Bowman said Sweet Cakes refused to sell her and her gay fiancée a cake for their upcoming wedding. Bowman said Aaron Klein, the co-owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, said the couple's union was an "abomination unto the lord."
Folks, no matter how you feel about "the gay issue", these poor people should not have everything they have worked for their whole lives taken away because they followed their faith.
PERIOD.
Lets all get together and see how much we can help out Christian neighbors.
2.
Barronelle Stutzman
Arlene's Flowers & Gifts
1177 Lee Boulevard
Richland WA
Victimization: defense of traditional marriage; defense of Christian beliefs; refused to provide flowers for a longtime customer's wedding to another man. Declined to settle complaint by WA state attorney general alleging violation of state Law Against Discrimination; sued and found to have violated the law.
Harm suffered: found liable for $1000 fine and $1 in court costs. Her business is has been a Washington corporation since 1989, which status protects her from personal liability absent a finding that she and her business operations are so intertwined as to make her corporation status meaningless. In this case, Stutzman appears to have made it so by making her personal religious beliefs the basis for action by her corporation. Washington's Law Against Discrimination prohibits "hiding" behind a corporate veil to get around the law, and the court ruled Stutzman is, potentially, individually liable alongside her company.
Though she claims to fear loss of her all, in a Fox News interview in February, this exchange took place:
The case was decided on summary judgment, which occurs when the facts are not in dispute and constitute a clear violation of law. The court found Stutzman's company had a written nondiscrimination policy pledging not to discrimininate based on any status determined by law; she confirmed she was aware state voters approved same-sex marriage in a 2012 referendum. She instituted an unwritten, no gay weddings policy after March 1, 2013, the day she declined to do the wedding of the gay couple.
After losing the judgment, Stutzman declined to settle for $2000 and $1 in court costs, and a promise to abandon her discriminatory practices. The State of Washington is clearly not trying to break her financially. So far, she has been assessed $1 in court costs, and nothing for attorney fees to the state. She is being defended, free of charge, by the Alliance Defense Fund. Her business website lists floral displays costing $150 and up, and stocks the flower coolers in several area hospital gift shops. Only 3% of her sales income is from weddings of any sort. Washington law does not allow punitive damages to be assessed, and the court has stayed determining any attorney fees and costs due to the couple until all appeals are completed. No punitive damages are allowed in Washington.
Nor is the couple she refused to serve seeking to soak her. Their claimed damages were $7.91 in mileage seeking a florist who would take their business.
Doubling down, Stutzman has sued the state in federal court to recover any damages she sustains from the couple's and state's suits against her. This case is also being handled, free, by Alliance Defending Freedom.
Crowdfunding option: GoFundMe- "Help Barronelle! (Arlene's Flowers)"
Narrative:
Fundraising Results:
April 16- $163,843 from 4692 donors; goal raised from $100,000 to $200,000 after O'Connor/Memories Pizza campaign closed April 4.
April 17: $171,318 from 4614 donors. Why the number would drop like that is not clear.
April 18: $171,678 from 4621 donors. Must be time to get on TV again.
April 19: $172,308 from 4632. Only $630 today, from 11 new donors.
April 21: $173,310 from 4643 donors.
April 22: No new contributions.
April 23: $173,400 from 4645 donors.
April 24: $173,490 from 4649 donors.
April 25: $174, 245 from 4649 donors.
Stutzman is also the the beneficiary of an undisclosed sum from the O'Connor/Memories Pizza victims' campaign, #2, below. Moreover, Stutzman's GoFundMe narrative, above, notes that funds raised for Stutzman (and, via Stutzman, for the O'Connors, one assumes) may be diverted to "those similarly situated in accord with the parameters set out above."
As Waldo previously reported:
Jack and Crystal O'Connor
Memories Pizza
608 Roosevelt Road
Walkerton IN
Victimization: defense of traditional marriage; defense of Christian beliefs; gave television interview stating the business would refuse to provide pizza catering services to same sex weddings, though none have ever asked. Otherwise, gays are welcome to eat Memories' pizzas, before and after marriage.
Harm suffered: Loss of approximately $1300 in pizza sales during one week when they voluntarily closed their business, citing online threats by opponents of Crystal O'Connor's comments to a television reporter. The O'Connor's "reached out" to The Blaze television network, according to press reports, which network then set up the crowdfunding campaign.
Crowdfunding option: GoFundMe- "Support Memories Pizza"
Narrative:
Check back often, and pass along news in our Comments section, below!
1.
James Boggess
22 Main Street, Flemington NJ
Victimization: for racial intolerance of his celebration of White History Month, March 2015
Crowdfunding option: GoFundMe- "Jimbos white history sign gone bad"
Narrative:
Hi, my name is jimbo, I have a deli in Flemington N.J..On march 1st I hung a sign in my deli window saying, "Celebrate your white heritage in march, White History Month". If you haven't heard of this story and you want to read about it ,just google Flemington white history or go on YouTube and search White history month. Anyway, it went crazy for four days and then I had to take the sign down for various reasons. It was only supposed to be a white thing but people read more into it than that. I did get tons of supporting letters from all across the USA. Which was very comforting during such a stressful time. Then the bottom dropped out and customers were no longer coming into my deli, and now I am forced to close down my Deli and lose my American dream. I have become heavily in debt and getting shut off notices from everywhere for both business and home. I don't think I deserve this just because I wanted to be proud of being white and be able to celebrate my heritage like everyone else does. If you read this , please leave a comment and what state your from so I can see where my support is coming from. Thank you for all the support and. I WILL stay strong and hope to find a job .
Thank you
Jimbo Boggess
Hi, my name is jimbo, I have a deli in Flemington N.J..On march 1st I hung a sign in my deli window saying, "Celebrate your white heritage in march, White History Month". If you haven't heard of this story and you want to read about it ,just google Flemington white history or go on YouTube and search White history month. Anyway, it went crazy for four days and then I had to take the sign down for various reasons. It was only supposed to be a white thing but people read more into it than that. I did get tons of supporting letters from all across the USA. Which was very comforting during such a stressful time. Then the bottom dropped out and customers were no longer coming into my deli, and now I am forced to close down my Deli and lose my American dream. I have become heavily in debt and getting shut off notices from everywhere for both business and home. I don't think I deserve this just because I wanted to be proud of being white and be able to celebrate my heritage like everyone else does. If you read this , please leave a comment and what state your from so I can see where my support is coming from. Thank you for all the support and. I WILL stay strong and hope to find a job .
Thank you
Jimbo Boggess
Campaign start: April 12, 2015
Fundraising Results:
April 16- $205 of $1 goal, from 13 donors; contributor Gus Philpott ($25) advises, "Take the next two weeks and write a book. Then get on radio talk shows and talk about what racism and bigotry are doing to this country. Your book will sell, and you'll earn good speaking fees."
April 17- $285 from 20 donors.
April 17- $285 from 20 donors.
April 18: $1,260 from 60 donors.
April 19- $1540 from 72 donors, up $280 from twelve new givers.
April 21: $1875 from 86 donors.
April 22: $1885 from 88 donors.
April 23: Nothing.
April 24: $1895 fro 89 donors.
April 25: Nothing.
Backstory:
Jim Boggess, proprietor of Jimbo's Deli on Main at 22 Main St., says, "No matter what you are -- Muslim, Jewish, black, white, gay, straight -- you should be proud of what you are. I shouldn't have to feel bad about being white.'
But a neighbor and former customer, Bhakti Curtis, who is bi-racial, doesn't accept that. He said the sign, is "mocking Black History Month," especially the way the T was crossed in "WHITE." The cross piece was not right at the top, it was lower down, in a style used by the Ku Klux Klan and other white-power groups, Curtis said. That cross piece of the T has since been broadened to make it a more traditional, if top-heavy, capital T.
On March 3, Curtis saw the sign, told Boggess it offended him, but got no satisfaction. So he filed a complaint with the Flemington police. Detective Sgt. William Svard said Cpl. Louis Hribik's report indicates that Curtis said the sign is "racist," that he felt harassed by it and wanted to know what would be done about it.
Hribik went to Jimbo's, looked at the sign, spoke with Boggess and decided that the sign wasn't derogatory or racist and that no further police action was needed.
Boggess agrees with that assessment and believes he's lawfully exercising his right of free expression. He keeps a copy of the Bill of Rights in his establishment for ready reference.
He said reaction to the sign has been mixed. Lots of people have been photographing his sign with their phones and giving him a thumbs-up. But others have objected, including someone from the Business Improvement District who asked him to take it down, he said.
Another critic of the sign is John Puckett, owner of the Main Street Bagel Co. a couple doors away. He said the sign is "an embarrassment" to Flemington "and makes us look like a town full of inbreds."
Boggess said, "If there's any racial discrimination going on, it's by people who are objecting to his sign "because I'm white." He said that while other groups have their own celebrations, "I just want to be included. Why is this such a big deal? I don't get it."
He said, "I love everybody and everybody should celebrate what they are..."2.
Brian Brown
2029 K Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC
Victimization: for defense of traditional marriage, 2007-present
Harm suffered: anticipated poor attendance at March for Marriage, rally and march on U.S. Supreme Court, April 25, 2015, by poor opponents of marriage equality, in need of transport; poor financial management and fundraising by NOM forced opening of this fundraising campaign in addition to another to cover the costs of the march and rally.
Crowdfunding option: GoFundMe- "Buses for March for Marriage"
Narrative:
Now is the moment when Americans must rise to defend marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It's our most important social institution to bring men and women together and provide the best environment for children to experience the love of a mother and father. Yet marriage is under challenge in the US Supreme Court, and their ruling could change the legal understanding of marriage for years to come. We have one remaining opportunity at the March for Marriage in Washington DC on April 25th to show the justices of the court that we want them to respect our votes and our values and uphold the right of states to preserve true marriage. Thousands of people are planning on coming to Washington to stand up for the truth of marriage, but there are thousands more who wish to come, but lack resources for transportation. This GoFundMe campaign will raise money to subsidize buses from throughout the country, many of which will originate in urban communities. Nobody should be denied the opportunity to march for marriage due to finances. The campaign will subsidize at least twenty buses. Additional funds raised beyond our goal will be used to support more buses of marriage supporters.
Campaign start date: April 10, 2015
Fundraising Results:
April 16- $11,598 of $40,000 goal, from 183 donors; Brian Brown, who earns $500,000 a year as NOM's president, donated $100.
April 17- $17,787 from 217 donors. This has prompted an Oral Roberts-style "God will call me away" appeal from Brian Brown, and filled with nonsense. "Thousands of marriage supporters"? As Waldo noted earlier in the week, if Brown fills all his buses the most he can swell what promises to be a tiny crowd (2000 last year) is 1220 people:
Friends -- I am greatly concerned... after a terrific start to our GoFundMe campaign to procure the funding for buses for the March for Marriage, support has slowed. We’ve raised over $11,000 so far but we need much more. Every bus costs $2,000 to rent and our goal is $40,000.
The reason I am extremely concerned is because if we can't raise the money we need very soon, I will have to call up the bus companies and cancel many of the buses we have reserved.
That would mean thousands of marriage supporters, willing to take time out of their weekend to demonstrate in defense of marriage, will not be able to come.
And that would be a tragedy. I don't want to do it... I don't want to have to tell people who want to fight for marriage that they can't because they don’t have the financial means to pay for their own bus... but I'm going to have to do it if we can't raise the money we need.
Please, make a donation right away to help us raise the money we need and then forward the campaign on to friends and family through Facebook and Twitter. Email people you know to let them know about it. Make announcements this weekend at your social gatherings or at your Church.
I know I'm asking a lot, but the alternative is too serious to consider... I'm going to have to cancel many buses for the March for Marriage if we don't raise a considerable amount of money very soon.
Please make a serious sacrifice to help defend marriage today.
April 18: $18,387 from 230 donors.
April 19: With six days to go, Brian Brown's angry nation only stumped up $1322 from 12 new donors. Of that, $777 came from one donor- a couple who decided their money was better spent tossed down this rathole than directed toward the downpayment on their home.
April 22: $41,616 from 366 donors. Brian Brown upped the goal for $50,000 for an additional five buses. With another miracle occur with just two days left?
April 23: $42,021 from 386 donors.
April 24: $43,126 from 405 donors.
April 25: $43,408 from 410 donors.
Past updates:
Update #1, April 15, 2015
April 17- $17,787 from 217 donors. This has prompted an Oral Roberts-style "God will call me away" appeal from Brian Brown, and filled with nonsense. "Thousands of marriage supporters"? As Waldo noted earlier in the week, if Brown fills all his buses the most he can swell what promises to be a tiny crowd (2000 last year) is 1220 people:
Friends -- I am greatly concerned... after a terrific start to our GoFundMe campaign to procure the funding for buses for the March for Marriage, support has slowed. We’ve raised over $11,000 so far but we need much more. Every bus costs $2,000 to rent and our goal is $40,000.
The reason I am extremely concerned is because if we can't raise the money we need very soon, I will have to call up the bus companies and cancel many of the buses we have reserved.
That would mean thousands of marriage supporters, willing to take time out of their weekend to demonstrate in defense of marriage, will not be able to come.
And that would be a tragedy. I don't want to do it... I don't want to have to tell people who want to fight for marriage that they can't because they don’t have the financial means to pay for their own bus... but I'm going to have to do it if we can't raise the money we need.
Please, make a donation right away to help us raise the money we need and then forward the campaign on to friends and family through Facebook and Twitter. Email people you know to let them know about it. Make announcements this weekend at your social gatherings or at your Church.
I know I'm asking a lot, but the alternative is too serious to consider... I'm going to have to cancel many buses for the March for Marriage if we don't raise a considerable amount of money very soon.
Please make a serious sacrifice to help defend marriage today.
April 18: $18,387 from 230 donors.
April 19: With six days to go, Brian Brown's angry nation only stumped up $1322 from 12 new donors. Of that, $777 came from one donor- a couple who decided their money was better spent tossed down this rathole than directed toward the downpayment on their home.
April 22: $41,616 from 366 donors. Brian Brown upped the goal for $50,000 for an additional five buses. With another miracle occur with just two days left?
April 23: $42,021 from 386 donors.
April 24: $43,126 from 405 donors.
April 25: $43,408 from 410 donors.
Past updates:
Update #1, April 15, 2015
Friends -- What an incredible launch! We raised over $7,000 in the first day of our GoFundMe campaign! But we have a ways to go to hit our minimum goal of $40,000.
Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to assist in the procurement of buses for marriage supporters in need of financial assistance to attend the 2015 March for Marriage. Three more buses are fully bought and paid for due to your generosity. But we need more!
We have to bring as many people as possible to Washington DC to show the justices of the court that we want them to respect our votes and our values and uphold the right of states to preserve true marriage. Thousands of people are planning on coming to Washington to stand up for the truth of marriage, but there are thousands more who wish to come, but lack resources for transportation.
So please -- if you haven't already done so -- make a donation in support of our GoFundMe campaign and then -- and this is critical -- spread the word about the campaign online and through Facebook and Twitter, letting all of your friends and family know about this tremendous undertaking, asking them to join you in supporting the 2015 March for Marriage.
Thank you,
Brian
Update #2: April 16, 2015
NOM is a secretive organization with a handful of deep-pocketed supporters underwriting its multimillion-dollar budget. It runs a variety of antigay campaign and advocacy efforts, in America and abroad. Its board chair, John C. Eastman, charges the taxpayers of North Carolina $400 per hour to represent them in the appeal of a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision last fall opening the door to marriage equality, having been hired for the case by NC Senate President Phil Berger and then-House Speaker, now US Senator, Thom Tillis. This year is the third of NOM's marriage rallies in Washington; all have been poorly attended and relied on bused-in participants.
Closed campaigns:
Friends -- After a very fast start, we have slowed down a bit. I'm concerned because we have a limited window to raise these funds in order to secure the buses we need to bring supporters down to the March. Basically, right now is when we need to reserve buses and make down payments.
So I'm asking everyone to please make a contribution right away if you haven't already done so.
Perhaps more importantly, I'm asking everyone to open their contacts to us and spread the word about this campaign to family and friends on Facebook and Twitter. We need the campaign to go viral if we're going to make our $40,000 goal... and I'm counting on you to help make that happen.
It's crunch time and I'm asking for sacrificial generosity on the part of everyone who believes in marriage.
BrianBackstory:
NOM is a secretive organization with a handful of deep-pocketed supporters underwriting its multimillion-dollar budget. It runs a variety of antigay campaign and advocacy efforts, in America and abroad. Its board chair, John C. Eastman, charges the taxpayers of North Carolina $400 per hour to represent them in the appeal of a 4th Circuit Court of Appeals decision last fall opening the door to marriage equality, having been hired for the case by NC Senate President Phil Berger and then-House Speaker, now US Senator, Thom Tillis. This year is the third of NOM's marriage rallies in Washington; all have been poorly attended and relied on bused-in participants.
Closed campaigns:
1.
Aaron and Melissa Klein
dba Sweet Cakes by Melissa
Undisclosed location, Gresham, OR
Victimization: Claimed persecution by angry gay thugs for refusing to bake a wedding cake for two lesbians; cited by State of Oregon for violation of state antidiscrimination law, found guilty, and facing a proposed penalty of $135,000 in damages.
Harm suffered: Suffering for their faith; many media engagements and speaking events before sympathetic audiences.
Crowdfunding option(s): See below.
Campaign Start:
1. Gofundme.com campaign opened February 11, 2015; closed by gofundme.com April 25, 2015.
2. Gofundme.com campaign opened April 24, 2015; closed by gofundme.com April 24, 2015
3. Samaritan's Purse campaign opened April 25, 2015.
Fundraising results:
1. The first gofundme.com campaign raised $65 from three donors.
2. The second gofundme.com campaign raised $109,000 in one day. Although the campaign has been closed, the Kleins will still get the money.
3. The Franklin Graham/Samaritan's Purse campaign is not disclosing any fundraising data.
Backstory:
In January 2013 the Kleins refused to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple planning a wedding in Oregon. Aaron Klein told one of the two their children were an "abomination to the Lord", and the Kleins have pursued a high profile media campaign that portrays them as the victims of the lesbians, who- having avoided publicity- have been hounded by media and individuals so much that an Oregon administrative law judge awarded them $135,000 in damages Friday. A link to the decision, which lays out the facts in remarkable detail, is here. The case is under review by the Director of the Bureau of Labor & Industries, whom the Kleins tried to disqualify for not being antigay enough to be fair to them, and can then be reviewed by Oregon appellate courts.
The Heritage Foundation, a one-time policy think tank now run by former SC senator Jim DeMint, has adopted the Kleins as a pet project:
The first Gofundme.com campaign has this narrative:
The owners of Gresham bakery, "Sweet Cakes by Melissa" bakery will have to pay a gay couple up to $150,000, BOLI spokesman Charlie Burr said. The exact amount will be determined at a hearing on March 10.
In Jan. 2013, Laurel Bowman said Sweet Cakes refused to sell her and her gay fiancée a cake for their upcoming wedding. Bowman said Aaron Klein, the co-owner of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, said the couple's union was an "abomination unto the lord."
Folks, no matter how you feel about "the gay issue", these poor people should not have everything they have worked for their whole lives taken away because they followed their faith.
PERIOD.
Lets all get together and see how much we can help out Christian neighbors.
2.
Barronelle Stutzman
Arlene's Flowers & Gifts
1177 Lee Boulevard
Richland WA
Victimization: defense of traditional marriage; defense of Christian beliefs; refused to provide flowers for a longtime customer's wedding to another man. Declined to settle complaint by WA state attorney general alleging violation of state Law Against Discrimination; sued and found to have violated the law.
Harm suffered: found liable for $1000 fine and $1 in court costs. Her business is has been a Washington corporation since 1989, which status protects her from personal liability absent a finding that she and her business operations are so intertwined as to make her corporation status meaningless. In this case, Stutzman appears to have made it so by making her personal religious beliefs the basis for action by her corporation. Washington's Law Against Discrimination prohibits "hiding" behind a corporate veil to get around the law, and the court ruled Stutzman is, potentially, individually liable alongside her company.
Though she claims to fear loss of her all, in a Fox News interview in February, this exchange took place:
BREAM: And Barronelle, they -- they offered to make you a deal. They said you pay this fine but also stop refusing specific weddings and we'll call it a day and it's all over. And you said.
STUTZMAN: No. It's not about the money.
(In the same interview, one of Stutzman's lawyers said her appeal will be based on religious freedom, but, as a backstop, freedom of expression: "She's an artist. There's a lot at stake here.")The case was decided on summary judgment, which occurs when the facts are not in dispute and constitute a clear violation of law. The court found Stutzman's company had a written nondiscrimination policy pledging not to discrimininate based on any status determined by law; she confirmed she was aware state voters approved same-sex marriage in a 2012 referendum. She instituted an unwritten, no gay weddings policy after March 1, 2013, the day she declined to do the wedding of the gay couple.
After losing the judgment, Stutzman declined to settle for $2000 and $1 in court costs, and a promise to abandon her discriminatory practices. The State of Washington is clearly not trying to break her financially. So far, she has been assessed $1 in court costs, and nothing for attorney fees to the state. She is being defended, free of charge, by the Alliance Defense Fund. Her business website lists floral displays costing $150 and up, and stocks the flower coolers in several area hospital gift shops. Only 3% of her sales income is from weddings of any sort. Washington law does not allow punitive damages to be assessed, and the court has stayed determining any attorney fees and costs due to the couple until all appeals are completed. No punitive damages are allowed in Washington.
Nor is the couple she refused to serve seeking to soak her. Their claimed damages were $7.91 in mileage seeking a florist who would take their business.
Doubling down, Stutzman has sued the state in federal court to recover any damages she sustains from the couple's and state's suits against her. This case is also being handled, free, by Alliance Defending Freedom.
Narrative:
Barronelle Stutzman, a Christian florist, referred her friend and long-time customer to other florists because she could not in good conscience provide full wedding support for a same-sex wedding. Although the couple received flowers, the Washington State Attorney General, and later, the same-sex couple, sued Barronelle.
The court found her liable for violating the Washington Law Against Discrimination and ruled that both the state and the couple may collect damages and attorneys' fees from Barronelle's business and personal assets.
The 70-year-old grandmother may lose her business, her home, and her savings - because she stood for her faith, she could lose everything she owns!
But you can help!
Give today to protect Barronelle against the financial risk she faces!
__________________________________________________
Barronelle is represented in her legal battle by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal organization headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. With Barronelle's cooperation, ADF created this account, but ADF's representation of Barronelle is done pro bono and none of the funds raised on this site will go to ADF or be used to cover any of ADF's operational or legal expenses. ADF may or may not administer the distribution of the funds raised, but all funds will be distributed for the benefit of Barronelle and those similarly situated in accord with the parameters set out above.
Find out more about Alliance Defending Freedom at www.AllianceDefendingFreedom.org.Campaign start: February 23, 2015. Apparently realizing the inconsistency of shutting down the Sweet Cakes fund for its beneficiaries having been found guilty of violating antidiscrimination laws while leaving Stutzman's relief account for the same reason open, it was closed April 25, 2015.
Fundraising Results:
April 16- $163,843 from 4692 donors; goal raised from $100,000 to $200,000 after O'Connor/Memories Pizza campaign closed April 4.
April 17: $171,318 from 4614 donors. Why the number would drop like that is not clear.
April 18: $171,678 from 4621 donors. Must be time to get on TV again.
April 19: $172,308 from 4632. Only $630 today, from 11 new donors.
April 21: $173,310 from 4643 donors.
April 22: No new contributions.
April 23: $173,400 from 4645 donors.
April 24: $173,490 from 4649 donors.
April 25: $174, 245 from 4649 donors.
Stutzman is also the the beneficiary of an undisclosed sum from the O'Connor/Memories Pizza victims' campaign, #2, below. Moreover, Stutzman's GoFundMe narrative, above, notes that funds raised for Stutzman (and, via Stutzman, for the O'Connors, one assumes) may be diverted to "those similarly situated in accord with the parameters set out above."
As Waldo previously reported:
It is not clear why Stutzman is getting a cut of the pizza payout. Another group is crowdfunding for her. She incurred a $1000 fine and $1 in court costs for violating Washington's law against discrimination; she, too is being championed by the Glenn Beck outfit, The Blaze. Here's Blaze program host Dana Loesch:
"Many have asked us why we didn't continue the fundraising for Memories Pizza longer. We only ever meant for it to go until Friday night. I've done enough successful crowdsourced fundraisers to know that we didn't want to burn out all the energy on one of many who are persecuted, when there are more just like the O'Connors who can also be helped. I think those of faith and those who love liberty have a responsibility to stand in the gap, just as we did with Memories Pizza. There are so many who have been persecuted with lawfare by the Intolerance Brigade; I hope that the O'Connors' story has brought this practice to light.
"This brings me to the next persecuted individual I'd like to help."
...why is The Blaze portraying Stutzman as "the next victim" of the fascist gay bullies when their campaign for her started first? Why is money raised for Memories Pizza by The Blaze being, directed- with the assistance of a Blaze-selected financial planner- to another person The Blaze is raising money for, and continues to raise for even after they have shut down the pizza play?
3.The Memories Pizza crowdfund was shut down April 2. On April 3, Dana Loesch shifted the focus back to Stutzman, announcing that, while they had met their goal for her, Loesch wanted to keep the fundraising going. The Seattle Times reported on April 4 that over half of donations to the Stutzman campaign came in over the preceding 24 hours.
Jack and Crystal O'Connor
Memories Pizza
608 Roosevelt Road
Walkerton IN
Victimization: defense of traditional marriage; defense of Christian beliefs; gave television interview stating the business would refuse to provide pizza catering services to same sex weddings, though none have ever asked. Otherwise, gays are welcome to eat Memories' pizzas, before and after marriage.
Harm suffered: Loss of approximately $1300 in pizza sales during one week when they voluntarily closed their business, citing online threats by opponents of Crystal O'Connor's comments to a television reporter. The O'Connor's "reached out" to The Blaze television network, according to press reports, which network then set up the crowdfunding campaign.
Crowdfunding option: GoFundMe- "Support Memories Pizza"
Narrative:
Purpose: To relieve the financial loss endured by the proprietors’ stand for faith.
After you donate please go "like" and combat the leftist hatred expressed on Dana's page."
https://www.facebook.com/danaradio?fref=nfhttps://www.facebook.com/DanaTheBlaze?fref=ts
Religious liberty is under assault in Indiana and that's never been clearer than with the O'Connor family.
When asked by local press the hypothetical question of whether or not they'd prefer to have their family owned business, Memories Pizza, cater a gay wedding, the owner said no citing their own religious beliefs as the reason.
Rather than allowing this family to simply have their opinion, which they were asked to give, outraged people grabbed the torches and began a campaign to destroy this small business in small town Indiana.
All for having an opinion that is rooted in faith.
No one was turned away. No one was discriminated against. It was a hypothetical question asked by a news reporter who had questionable motives to begin with.
After being interviewed by Dana Loesch on her television show on Blaze TV, we learned that the family may never even reopen the doors to their restaurant as the death threats and vicious online reviews continue to pour in from the arbiters of "tolerance."
My name is Lawrence Jones, and I'm one of the television opinion contributors on Dana's show.
Before the televised interview, producers Rachel, Allison and George discussed the situation with Dana, myself and head writer Ben Howe. We all agreed: this family needs help to get through this assault.
So we set up a GoFundMe page with the modest goal of $25,000. The intent was to help the family stave off the burdensome cost of having the media parked out front, activists tearing them down, and no customers coming in.
Our goal was simply to help take one thing off this family's plate as the strangers sought to destroy them.
But other strangers came to the rescue and the total just keeps going up.
Thank you for helping us do some good for this family who were scared and in hiding just 24 hours before this writing.
All money, save whatever percentage GoFundMe takes, will be transferred directly to whichever bank account the O'Connors wish to use.
Show producers are in direct contact with the family to ensure that they never feel like they are being left out of what is going on.
Thank you to everyone for your generosity.
Campaign start: April 1, 2015
Fundraising Results:
Campaign closed April 4, 2015. $842,442 of $200,000 goal raised by 21,161 donors. Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers (see above), is also a beneficiary of this campaign, which was set up by the same television company that is promoting hers; Stutzman's nonprofit legal defense team, representing her free, also reserves the right to distribute funds raised to "others similarly situated."
News of the Praying for Pizza windfall:
Jones says The Blaze has arranged for a financial planner to help the O'Connors figure out what to do with all that money. He adds that the family will announce its plans later this week and hopes to meet with some of its gay supporters. Attempts to contact the O'Connors for comment were unsuccessful.
The Blaze, a Glenn Beck organization, started the crowdfunding effort after the O'Connors sought out Blaze program host- and CNN contributor- Dana Loesch, who recently defended a conservative boy teen radio shock jock who called for shunning gay kids and claimed President Obama is making people gay; Loesch praised his "civic participation." The bell-ringing ended two days ago at $842,357 from 29,166 donors, for an average of $28.88 each.
GoFundMe takes 7.9% plus 30 cents of each donation, so it looks like the O'Connor family presumably will get over three-quarters of a million dollars – a little over $767,000.
GoFundMe will haul in about $75,000 from the Memories Pizza campaign.
The O'Connor family plans to keep an unspecified sum to cover their lost income for voluntarily shutting down their business for a week, citing fears that have now, apparently, evaporated. In a long interview with the UK's Daily Mail (a Tory paper owned by the Rothermere press family) Memories Pizza owner Kevin O'Connor admitted, given that they only sell a hundred pizzas a week- $12.99 for the 16-incher, when business is good. By that measure, the O'Connors were out $1300, tops, for the week they went to ground, daughter Crystal emerging only to give interviews on conservative TV programs about the fundraising for her business:
They revealed they are set to share their new fortune with disabled children, a women’s help group, fire fighters, police trusts, Christian churches and Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman, 70, who was fined after declaring she would not serve a gay wedding.
For the O'Connors, whatever they keep is a real windfall: Forbes reports since it is all gifted, it is tax free.
Pending....
5.
Brian Klawiter
Dieseltec
2875 Ottawa Avenue
Grandview MI
2875 Ottawa Avenue
Grandview MI
Victimization: negative reaction to Facebook postings, April 14, 2015:
Enough is enough.
Our rights as conservative Americans are being squashed more and more everyday. Apparently if you are white (or close to it), you have a job, go to church, and own a gun... That translates into racists, privileged, bigot, conspiracy theorist. Too many of us say nothing. Well, freedom of speech isn't just for Liberals, THEY are the ones that need to learn to "co-exist", THEY are the ones who need to WORK to be "equal"
Therefore, in the spirit of freedom (whats left of it) and MY right to operate MY business as I see fit:
Guns ARE allowed at DIESELTEC, so much so in fact that we will offer a discount if you bring in your gun. ("On duty" cops are excluded because thats not their gun, thats my gun bought with my money, off duty absolutely!)
I am a Christian. My company will be run in a way that reflects that. Dishonesty, thievery, immoral behavior, etc. will not be welcomed at MY place of business. (I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period. 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.)
We, as a team, work hard for whats ours. We are not protected by unions or contracts. We absolutely MUST provide our customers with a service level that would make them come back or tell their friends about us. We don't have a "right", and we are not "entitled" to our pay. We must EARN it.
I am not racists, you are for assuming I am, however, I am really quick to judge... if it acts like a duck, and quacks like a duck...
It IS a free country and I support your right to your opinion, that being said, if you don't like what I have to say I reserve that same right to tell you to go cry to your momma (cause your daddy would probably smack ya', better yet, yes, go tell your dad.)April 16-17, 2015, with edits:
- Yesterday at 10:00am
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down, however, because of the ridiculous backlash I am requesting any supporters of ours that would be willing to stand with us to help secure my home and business.
- 23 hours ago
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down, however, because of the ridiculous backlash I am requesting any supporters of ours that would be willing to stand with us to help secure my home and business. (There also seems to be a TON of confusion about one of my comments, the bolt and nut thing was a reference to physiology, bolt penis and nut vagina. I DID NOT threaten to purposely put a vehicle together wrong to harm someone.)
- 22 hours ago
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down, however, because of the ridiculous backlash I am requesting any supporters of ours that would be willing to stand with us to help secure my home and business. (There also seems... See More
- 22 hours ago
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down, (There also seems to be a TON of confusion about one of my comments, the bolt and nut thing was a reference to physiology, bolt penis and nut vagina. I DID NOT threaten to purposely put a vehicle together wrong to harm someone.) I also am not asking for anyone to do the gofundme postings. We are a successful business and are blessed to be able to feed our families. If there is any money raised it will be redistributed to people with greater needs than ours.
- 9 hours ago
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down.
- about an hour ago
- Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down. I said I am a christian and I think any true (as you all like to call it) christian would readily admit they are a sinner, as am i, and that we practice our religion: i.e. try to get better at it. I am NOT Jesus. What he did was perfect and as far as what he would do I will not speculate as I am merely broken flesh. The Bible has been at the center of debate many times and left subject to interpretation. My interpretation is different than yours. I did not ask to debate sin, however, I am being reminded of mixed fabrics and eating shellfish... so can we all agree then that homosexuality is a sin? If it is then we should always make an effort to move away from sin right? If its not then why are you offended? Enough about that, I am not qualified nor worthy to get in to theology. I set some ground rules for how I operate my life; do I not have the right to do that? If we both have the right to our opinions at what point does it become acceptable to destroy someones reputation, and the reputation of everyone they know, threaten to kill and destroy because you disagree. The evil in this situation is clearly identifiable. Just read the comments below. I never threatened to intentionally put someones vehicle together wrong, use you sense, (although it may not have been the best way to elaborate) You need a bolt and a nut to hold something together, two bolts can not, and two nuts can not, you must have one of each, a male and a female. Get it now?........................................... To all of our supporters, there is a semi-local preacher of some kind rallying a protest tomorrow Sat. 12:00-2p, they are gonna "occupy" something near by. We invite our supporters to join us for some fellowship, we will roll out the grill (bring something for us to cook up for you, and byob) and we can enjoy a sunny afternoon together with our guns, our God, our freedom.
Harm suffered: online complaints and threats arising from unprompted Facebook posts, above.
Crowdfunding option: The website Queerty commented, "Cue the GoFundMe campaign in 3, 2, 1…"
One went up yesterday. Here's a screenshot:
One went up yesterday. Here's a screenshot:
Campaign start: April 16, around 12:20 pm, Klawitter posted:
A Grandview bankruptcy lawyer has published an open letter offering his services for what he sees as the inevitable result of Dieseltec's campaign (see also Jimbo's Deli, above)
I also am not asking for anyone to do the gofundme postings. We are a successful business and are blessed to be able to feed our families. If there is any money raised it will be redistributed to people with greater needs than ours.Yesterday, April 16, Think Progress found:
Mirroring the support for Indiana’s Memories Pizza, a GoFundMe page has already been started to support Dieseltec. As of publication of this post, only five dollars have been donated — from a woman in a same-sex marriage and mother of three who asks, “Will you except [sic] my money? Or is it too gay for you?” (Shortly after this post was published, the campaign was taken down.)The Facebook post section mentioning a GoFundMe campaign was removed around 1.20 am April 17.
A Grandview bankruptcy lawyer has published an open letter offering his services for what he sees as the inevitable result of Dieseltec's campaign (see also Jimbo's Deli, above)
Results: Pending.
Backstory:
This antigay outburst makes little sense, except as a ploy for attention and, perhaps, funding. There is no evidence Diseltech was besieged by big-rig-driving gays; more important, the kind of discrimination Dieseltec's owner is embracing is already legal in that state. No one is forcing him to do anything.
Backstory:
This antigay outburst makes little sense, except as a ploy for attention and, perhaps, funding. There is no evidence Diseltech was besieged by big-rig-driving gays; more important, the kind of discrimination Dieseltec's owner is embracing is already legal in that state. No one is forcing him to do anything.
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