Feministing.com notes that Faith Aloud, a St. Louis-based group representing “diverse religious beliefs, denominations, and practices,” and whose “mission is to promote reproductive justice through the moral power of religious and ethical communities,” which translates into supporting abortion and same-sex marriage, is requesting a boycott of local Orlando’s Catering. Screams Faith Aloud’s blog:
ORLANDO’S CATERING WON’T SERVE PRO-CHOICE PEOPLE!
Well folks, its official…the rumors are true…Orlando’s Banquet and Catering has caved to the pressure of radical anti-choicers and banished Faith Aloud. Michael Orlando, owner of Orlando’s Banquet and Catering, has decided to donate all the profits from the Faith Aloud Awards to radical anti-choice causes to “make amends” for serving us. Furthermore Michael Orlando has made the poor choice of REFUSING to serve people associated with Faith Aloud. Basically Michael Orlando has chosen to ban pro-choice people from ALL of his venues. In his email to us Michael Orlando said, “After much discussion and deliberation with our family who takes a pro-life stance in our community, we feel we must decline the opportunity to host your event in the future. I hope you understand our position.” We wonder how he can ask that we understand his position when he not only doesn’t understand ours on a personal level but has chosen to ostracize anyone who associates with our position from his business. When emcee extraordinaire and marriage equality activist Ed Reggi talked to Michael Orlando about the decision to ban Faith Aloud, Michael Orlando told Ed ” this is a right as a Catholic business to refuse anyone that goes against their families beliefs.” How does this make you feel? What can you do? Here at Faith Aloud we encourage you to BOYCOTT Orlando’s Banquet and Catering. Don’t have your event there, Don’t attend events there, tell your friends not to go there. If you want to do more call or email Michael Orlando directly and express your disappointment with his choice to refuse those who support choice. His direct phone number is :
314-842-3316 and his email is morlando@orlandogardens.com
Of course, since this is still a free country Orlando’s is free to cater to whom it wishes on religious grounds. As a business, Orlando’s is also free to suffer the consequences of its corporate decisions. Or as I guess, in this case the company is also able enjoy the benefit of additional free publicity courtesy of such loud and angry voices as Faith Aloud.
