Virginia Christian group banned by restaurant at last minute over its ‘unsafe’ religious beliefs

A conservative Christian nonprofit had an event suddenly canceled by a Virginia restaurant due to fears over what the staff alleged felt are “unsafe” beliefs. 

The Family Foundation, a Christian nonprofit based in Richmond, Virginia, was forced to reschedule its event after it received notice its reservation at the Metzger Bar and Butchery had been canceled less than two hours before the event was to begin, reports the Washington Examiner.  

The restaurant’s refusal to serve the group left it “scrambling,” the group said on its website. 

“About an hour and a half before the event was set to take place, one of the restaurant’s owners called our team to cancel the event,” the release reads. “As our VP of Operations explained that guests were arriving at their restaurant shortly, she asked for an explanation. Sure enough, an employee looked up our organization, and their wait staff refused to serve us.” 

The restaurant released a statement on Facebook explaining its decision: 

“Recently we refused service to a group that had booked an event with us after the owners of Metzger found out it was a group of donors to a political organization that seeks to deprive women and LGTBTQ+ persons of their basic human rights in Virginia.” 

The foundation maintains it’s simply a matter of its religious beliefs, writing on its website, “Welcome to the 21st century, where people who likely consider themselves ‘progressives’ attempt to recreate an environment from the 1950s and early ’60s, when people were denied food service due to their race. … 

“Welcome to the double standard of the left, where some believe Jack Phillips must be forced to create a wedding cake as part of the celebration of a same-sex ceremony but any business should be able to deny basic goods and services to those who hold biblical values around marriage. … 

“Our witness will not be diminished, and we will not be silenced. We will speak out when we see this type of religious discrimination occurring in Virginia.” 

Others also are speaking out for the Christian nonprofit. 

“‘Inclusive’ restaurant turns away Christian group because of its beliefs. Who’s the bigot?” asks a headline by USA Today columnist Ingrid Jacques – followed by the subhead, “Tolerance is a two-way street. Perhaps it’s progressives who need to take a hard look in the mirror.” 

Noting that the restaurant’s own Instagram post speaks of a staff who “are people with rights who deserve dignity,” Jacques writes, “Apparently that same dignity and comfort aren’t afforded to those with the ‘wrong’ politics or beliefs.”