Christian printing company refuses to print college magazine because it features queer people and drag queens
A ‘Christian’ printing company refused to print a college magazine’s diversity issue. (Stock photo from Elements Envato)
A ‘Christian’ printing company in Alabama, US, has refused to print an issue of a college magazine because it contains content about LGBT+ people.
Interstate Printing representatives cite their “First Amendment Right” to refuse to print images of drag queens, queer folk, disabled students and people of various religious beliefs on the grounds of religion.
University of South Alabama magazine Due South was denied printing by the Mobile company because their latest issue, which discusses diversity, does not align with their values.
Sydney McDonald, managing editor of the student-ran publication, first broke the story on Due South on Thursday.
Defiant editors have not let themselves be detracted, however, and have sought printing from a different company instead.
What happened?
Ahead of their Fall 2019 issue, Due South editors were busy approving copy and editing images. With the finished version completed, it was sent to the printers on Wednesday.
“They emailed me back and said they would be exercising their right to decline printing this issue because it does not adhere to their Christian values and they hope to print with us in the future,” said editor-in-chief Sara Boone to AL.com.
The 21-year-old added: “It’s very ironic for me because this particular issue of Due South is a special topics issue on diversity and inclusion.
“And it’s the very first special topics issue that we have ever produced.
“For them to decline printing it because it’s so diverse and the content is incredibly ironic.”
Printing company goes cold over magazine expressing ‘freedom of lifestyles’.
Rupturing the magazine’s seven year-long relationship with the printing company, Boone explained that the company had quoted $5,000 for 3,500 copies of the magazine.
“As the magazine expresses freedom of lifestyles, we must express our freedom by declining to print on the principle that we are a Christian company that does not adhere to the content,” Tracy Smith of Interstate Printing wrote in the email.
“We value the 40-plus years relationship we have with the University of South Alabama, and look forward to continuing our work with USA on other print and mail service projects.”
Interstate Printing’s front-page has a Bible verse on it. It reads: “We are a Christian company that will serve the Lord God Almighty in any way we can.”
The company aims to achieve this by printing bridal magazines or flyers for a local high-school football game, sponsored by Reece’s Pieces.
This isn’t the first time a religion printers has rejected printing material containing LGBT+ content.
In Illinois earlier this year, a print shop denied printing a queer charity’s brochure claiming it “promoted” the gay lifestyle.
