VA Restaurant Turns Away Group Over Views On Women's, LGBTQ+ Rights

RICHMOND, VA — A Richmond restaurant is drawing both praise and criticism Wednesday after its staff canceled a reservation made by a conservative Christian organization, citing the group's views on women's and LGBTQ+ rights.

Since Metzger Bar and Butchery opened its doors eight years ago, it has rarely refused service to anyone, the owners wrote in an Instagram post. An exception was made when they learned the restaurant would be hosting The Family Foundation.

On its website, the Richmond-based organization says it advocates for "policies based on biblical principles."

In the Instagram post, restaurant staff said they refused service to the group after finding out its members belong to an organization that "seeks to deprive women and LGBTQ+ persons of their basic human rights in Virginia."

"We have always refused service to anyone for making our staff uncomfortable or unsafe and this was the driving force behind our decision," the post read. "Many of our staff are women and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community. All of our staff are people with rights who deserve dignity and a safe work environment. We respect our staff’s established rights as humans and strive to create a work environment where they can do their jobs with dignity, comfort and safety."

Their argument is the flip side to a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. The restaurant's decision was publicized the same week justices sparred in the latest collision of religion and gay rights in the United States.

For more than two hours Monday, the nation's highest court heard arguments in a case involving a Christian graphic artist from Colorado who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples.

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The designer and her supporters say that ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their beliefs. Her opponents, meanwhile, say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants.

The case follows a series of others in which justices have sided with religious plaintiffs. Meanwhile, across the street, lawmakers in Congress are finalizing what would be a landmark bill protecting same-sex marriage, legislation prompted by a different high court case from earlier this year.

Metzger Bar and Butchery isn't the first restaurant to refuse service to diners over their conservative views.

In 2018, the owner of The Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, asked then-White House Press Secretary and future Arkansas Gov.-elect Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave her restaurant when staff expressed concern.

Metzger Bar and Butchery is a German-influenced restaurant in Richmond's Union Hill neighborhood. Its kitchen is led by co-owner Brittanny Anderson, a veteran of TV cooking shows including "Top Chef" and "Chopped," the Washington Post reported.

When contacted by The Post, Metzger co-owner Kjell Anderson said the owners had no comment beyond the Instagram post.

The Family Foundation's president, Victoria Cobb, responded to the restaurant's decision in a blog post titled, "We've Been Canceled! Again."

In the post, Cobb said the group had planned a dessert reception for supporters, but was contacted by the restaurant an hour and a half before the event. When asked for an explanation, Cobb said, "Sure enough, an employee looked up our organization, and their wait staff refused to serve us."

"Welcome to the double standard of the left, where some believe Jack Phillips must be forced to create a wedding cake as part of the celebration of a same-sex ceremony but any business should be able to deny basic goods and services to those who hold biblical values around marriage," Cobb wrote, referencing a 2017 Supreme Court case involving a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple.

Cobb also likened Metzger's to restaurants that refused to serve Black people in the 1950s and 1960s.

Not quite, according to legal experts. While it's illegal to discriminate against a person based on their race or religion, Metzger's decision was based on The Family Foundation's actions, University of Texas professor Elizabeth Sepper told The Post.

"It’s about the overall positions and policies the group has taken — it’s not about Christian vs. non-Christian," she said.

That didn't stop people from blasting the business on social media. The restaurant has since limited who can comment on its social media posts.

"I like your menu, but I won't eat at a woke establishment again," a user wrote on the business's Facebook post.

"Can’t believe you refused service to a Christian organization..... you should be ashamed,” another comment on the post said, according to The Charlotte Observer.

Meanwhile, others supported the staff's decision.

"Thank you!! This made me cry because it is so important that we all stand as allies with all of our LBGTQ + and minority brothers and sisters," one user wrote.

"Made my reservation for tonight!" another person said.

"A principle isn't a principle until it costs you something," another user wrote. "I applaud you for doing what you can to protect employees and uphold equality."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.