Graphics company with rainbow logo refuses to make rainbow logo for pro-gay church
A graphics company which has a logo containing a rainbow, has refused to design branding for a church which allows LGBT people to worship freely.
The Fargo-based Custom Graphics Inc, has declined business from the St Mark Lutheran Church, after it became clear that the religious organisation wanted a rainbow included in its logo.
Church council members had asked that the logo, which was meant to be designed by Custom Graphics, contain rainbow colours, a symbol of acceptance for LGBT worshippers.
Business owner Zach Paxton told the Bismarck Tribune: “The business was declined respectfully… I didn’t mean any offence by it or anything like that.”
This comes despite reports pointing out that the Custom Graphics Inc logo has rainbow colours.
When asked why, Paxton told the publication that he was not comfortable with designing a logo for the “lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement”.
“If they would come with something to be manufactured or such, no problem,” he said.
“But this is trying to come up with a logo and help them come up with ways to promote their agenda.”
Following suggestions that he has discriminated against the church and its members, Paxton denied that he had.
But others have said this is the reason the state of North Dakota needs a law banning LGBT discrimination.
State Representative Joshua Boschee said: “We don’t allow businesses to say that they’re not going to design a graphic for someone who is Muslim or someone who is disabled or someone that’s a single parent because we recognise that that’s just a form of discrimination that’s not a North Dakota value.”
Zach Paxton said the owner, his cousin, Paul Paxton, had disagreed with his recision to decline the business.
He said: “We were planning to offer our apologies to the persons involved.”
Members of the church council Adam Johnston and Tyler Schafer had met with the company two weeks ago, and that they had thought there were no objections to their rainbow logo idea.
“Everyone was on board. They were really excited about it,” Johnston said. “And then within a week, we get an email saying, ‘Nope, we’re done. We’re not doing it.’”
