No regret from auto shop owner on anti-gay posts

Grandville — A western Michigan auto shop owner said he’s received threats after indicating on social media that he might refuse service to an openly gay person.

The Grand Rapids Press reported that the Facebook page for Dieseltec, a Grandville company owned by Brian Klawiter, included posts saying “homosexuality is wrong” and that as a Christian, he wouldn’t welcome “dishonesty, thievery” or “immoral behavior” at his business.

The comments sparked some support but mostly backlash. One woman protested outside the shop Thursday.

Klawiter told the newspaper his family and business have been threatened by callers, but some have been supportive. He says he doesn’t regret posting because he feels strongly about his beliefs.

Local police didn’t immediately return a message from the Associated Press about whether the threats had been reported.

The lengthy Diseltec Facebook post dated Tuesday read in part: “I am a Christian. My company will be run in a way that reflects that. Dishonesty, thievery, immoral behavior, etc. will not be welcomed at MY place of business. (I would not hesitate to refuse service to an openly gay person or persons. Homosexuality is wrong, period. If you want to argue this fact with me then I will put your vehicle together with all bolts and no nuts and you can see how that works.)”

A later post apparently was a response to the backlash from those statements: “Listen up folks, If you have an opposing view to mine that IS OK, what is NOT OK is threats to kill me, my family, and friends; threats to burn down my shop and my home. I will stand firm on my views and will not back down...”

The same post also referenced the earlier comments: “the bolt and nut thing was a reference to physiology, bolt penis and nut vagina.”