Anti-gay Mich. business targeted by vandals

Christopher Zoladz | WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Show Caption Hide Caption Anti-gay business vandalized and threatened After posting an anti-gay message on his Facebook page, a Michigan auto shop owner found himself under fire, but he's not backing down.

GRANDVILLE, Mich. — A Michigan business owner who sparked controversy by posting opinions on Facebook about refusing to serve certain groups, including gay customers, has been the target of vandalism.

Last week, Dieseltec owner Brian Klawiter made headlines when he posted that he would refuse to provide service to openly gay customers.

"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," he wrote on Facebook on April 14.

Overnight Tuesday, graffiti was sprayed on the Grandville, Mich., building reading, "I (heart) nuts."

Klawiter posted other photos on his business Facebook page showing a red pick-up truck with the words "bash back" sprayed on the windshield and a garage door. Other photos showed a rock thrown through a window.

"We're not intimidated by it," said Klawiter on Tuesday. "I think it's childish behavior. I think for a community of people that want to display tolerance, I don't think that's the right way to do it."

Earlier in the day, he posted this on Facebook:

"Well, folks, as we predicted, it didn't take long for the ugly face of the homosexual movement to present itself. What started out with 'mere' death threats against myself and my family and homosexuals spamming my Facebook page with gay porn shots, has escalated to physical violence. See the pics below. We called police to file a report this morning, and City of Grandville Officer John Davis responded. The officer arrived, looked around, took a few notes, chuckled, and said 'turn it in to the insurance company.' He gave us a Police Report number 15-2779, but did not take the rock which has a fingerprint on it. The homosexual agenda is evil, and is prepared to destroy anyone who gets in its way, or who calls homosexuality a sin. Today it's us; tomorrow, it could be you."

In an interview, Klawiter said, "I feel anti-gay is what lead every to all of this hate. And make no mistake, this is no back-pedal.

"What this is, is a Christian business owner standing on principles. Nothing has changed from my original statement. I still won't tolerate certain behavior in my shop. And that's never going to change."

On Saturday, around 100 protesters gathered outside Dieseltec to peacefully oppose Klawiter's comments.

The Rev. Robert Teszlewics, who lead the weekend protest, urged everyone involved on both sides to express their opinions and beliefs in a respectful manner.

Klawiter said he feels he should be able to run his automotive diesel engine repair shop how he'd like to, and that includes running it under his religious beliefs.

He said he didn't mean to start a controversy but knows he should have realized the consequences before posting.

Contributing: Eric D. Lloyd, WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, Mich.; Detroit Free Press.