Another venue to close down rather than host gay weddings
Yet another venue has decided to close its doors, rather than host the weddings of same-sex couples.
The Gortz Haus Gallery, which includes a bistro and wedding venue, has struggled in recent years since its owners, Dick and Betty Odgaard refused to host a same-sex wedding.
The couple in January announced that they would no longer host any weddings, rather than allow same-sex couples to marry there.
They cited their religion as their reason for not wanting to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry there.
Now, with falling profits, the couple have announced that they will close the business permanently, as soon as August.
The Mennonite couple said the building of their gallery, which was formerly a Lutheran church, has attracted the interest of a religious group,
They have also formed their own religious ministry, God’s Original Design, which advocates for marriage as the union only between one man and one woman.
A gay couple filed a complaint in 2013 with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission over the couple’s refusal to allow them to rent the gallery.
A year later, the Odgaards paid the couple $5,000 in a settlement. They also agreed not to discriminate against same-sex couples.
