Todrick Hall tears into wedding venues refusing gay couples over religious beliefs
Todrick Hall. (Getty)
Todrick Hall has urged people to boycott anti-LGBT+ wedding venues after a gay couple were turned down because of the owner’s “religious beliefs”.
The American rapper, 36, fumed to TMZ about how Barn in the Bend, a rustic wedding venue in Madison, Tennessee, rejected Mike Gill and Coty Heaton.
Gill and Heaton approached the venue only for the owner via email to dump them. “We do not offer same-sex marriages here,” she said, “I am sorry but due to my religious beliefs I have chosen this policy.”
“I think there are a lot of people who argue privilege exists, it doesn’t just exist for people who are white in this country – it exists for people who are heterosexual,” an incensed Hall said.
Todrick Hall wants a boycott of anti-gay venues that refuse to host queer couples
“I hope that people reach out to this company and hold them accountable and let them that even people in their own community don’t f**k with this. This is not OK, this is not acceptable – it’s 2021.
“If someone’s getting married, it’s not your job to dictate whether or not you think that their marriage should be legal. Let them get married.”
Speaking from Los Angeles International, the American Idol star urged queer to-be-weds to take their business elsewhere from anti-LGBT+ establishments.
Hall thanked the couple for speaking out about the homophobia they faced, before adding: “Go somewhere else, don’t give this company your business.
“I hope someone reaches out to you so you can have an amazing wedding where you and your family and friends feel welcome. Times are changing.
“I would never go to this venue,” he continued.
“I don’t feel like we’re in a place anymore where we should fight to be there for you to have a gay wedding at your business or your establishment is a compliment because we throw the best wedding, were ht most fabulous people.
“It’s their loss.”
Todrick Hall’s remarks come after Barn in the Ben owner Jackie Daniel set up a “tour” for the couple. Under her email signature, it initially read: “We offer same-sex marriage ceremonies only.”
But after exchanging more emails, Gill noticed that her signature had been updated to clarify that the company does not, in fact, host ceremonies for same-sex couples.
Describing her as a “bigot” on Facebook, Gill told TMZ that in sharing their story they don’t want to get a place at the Barn in the Ben, but rather amplify that such intolerance is still rife.
