Over $127,000 raised for homeless LGBT youths in response to Indiana pizzeria fund
In response to a campaign to raise money for an Indiana pizzeria which said it would refuse service to a gay couple, over $127,000 (£85,000) has been raised for a charity which works with homeless LGBT young people.
The owners of Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana had said they would use the newly passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act to refuse to serve pizza at a gay wedding. Crystal O’Connor said: “If a gay couple was to come in and they wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no.
Since, over $800,000 (£540,000) has been raised on GoFundMe to support the pizzeria, which has become the subject of boycotts.
In response, a campaign was launched aiming to raise the same amount of money, if not more, to be dontated to Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund, which aims to end youth LGBT homelessness.
In its first five days the amount was raised, with some users donating as much as $5,000 (£3,370).
Awareness for the campaign was raised using the hashtag #Pizza4Equality on social media.
The page, set up by Scott Wooledge reads: “There is much disgust and consternation in the LGBT community over a viral fundraiser effort, that has as of this writing, earned $842,387. Many have lamented, “If only our cause could raise that much money that fast.”
“I say, yes, we can.”
The True Colors Fund is currently running an initiative called #40tonone, which aims to eliminate youth homelessness, which disproportionately affects LGBT youths.
Also, in good news for any same-sex couple wishing to marry in the state, Scrubs stars Zach Braff and Donald Faison offered to make pizza for same-sex weddings in the state of Indiana, for anyone turned away by Memories Pizza.
