Citing Catholic faith, Fairfield County landlord wants Pride symbols removed from properties
A Lancaster landlord is asking his tenants to remove any messaging related to Pride Month from his properties, telling them that Catholic doctrine rejects the promotion of "sex-related observances" that conflict with it.
"I believe that to willingly allow my company's properties to be used for such a thing would be offensive to God," Link Llewellyn wrote to business tenants of several properties to which he leases.
One of the recipients, Bill Morgan, has operated Morgan's Treasure, a custom jewelry store at 31 North State Street in Westerville for about 17 years.
He received Llewellyn's emailed letter requesting compliance on Tuesday — and quickly responded.
"I responded to him, telling him that I rejected just about everything in his letter," said Morgan. "We have donated money to a queer organization, and we expect them this weekend to do business with us."
The Westerville Queer Collective is planning a festival at Westerville City Hall from 2-8 p.m. Saturday.
The collective describes themselves as "passionate about connecting, celebrating, and empowering the diverse LGBTQIA+ community in Westerville."
Llewellyn did not return repeated calls for comment.
His letter begins by stating, "In my religion, June is not recognized as 'Pride month." Instead, he wrote, it is celebrated as the Sacred Heart of Jesus month, during which "Catholics are encouraged to reflect on and appreciate the love Christ has for all human beings without exception and how much He suffered for us because of our sin in rejecting His love, which has pride as its root."
The celebration of what he called sex-related observances are in conflict with the Catholic doctrine, "and in direct conflict with my religious beliefs," Llewellyn's letter states. He includes supporting citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
He asked his tenants to "refrain from placing any signage or any other means of communication, inside or outside of the leased buildings, that relate in any way to Pride Month, either for or against."
Morgan said his business has not displayed anything promoting Pride Month and, as a businessman he tries to remain neutral about social issues but welcomes all customers.
"I feel offended that somebody would try to push their opinion on us," he said.
Amy Lash, president of Rainbow Alliance of Fairfield County, where Llewellyn has property, said using Catholicism to denigrate gay relationships is hypocritical.
"Catholics are always too quick to say whatever everyone's doing is wrong, but quick to hide what priests have done," referring to the cases of sexual abuse of young boys and girls mostly by priests uncovered since the late 1980s.
Lash is not a tenant of Llewellyn, but reviewed his letter and said that it, and others like it, "very clearly attacks people who just want love and kindness and acceptance."
An ordained minister who said she follows the teachings of Jesus, Lash said the letter "saddens me, honestly."
She said that Pride month flags, banners or bumper stickers, are symbols to customers that "they (businesses) are a safe space."
"I want to know what businesses are safe and friendly," Lash said.
As for Llewellyn and other Pride critics, she said she wished they would be open to new information that might change their minds.
"It's so much easier to just show kindness, love and acceptance with every other human," Lash said.
dnarciso@dispatch.com
@DeanNarciso
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Landlord says promoting Pride Month is conflict with his Catholicism
