After more than a week of prayer, Joe Penovich, the owner of Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar locations at Port Canaveral, Melbourne, and Orlando, has removed Bud Light from his restaurants.
He said: “I have to do what I believe God is telling me to do. It is true we made the decision to remove Bud Light because of their support of something that is in direct opposition to our Biblical faith.
“There is no judgement in our heart concerning those who believe in these rapidly changing social values. But there is a lie being levied that we and other Christians hate Dylan Mulvaney and the gay community.
“Nothing could be further from the truth in our hearts and minds.
“Our decision was made with many tears for this circumstance and what we see as corporate greed and a deeper spiritual reality coming upon this world.
“Our current plan is to eliminate Bud and Bud Light from our locations and replace it with a locally brewed, much higher quality Pilsner. Reference to all other Anheuser-Bush brands will be eliminated.
“This includes but is not limited to all promotional items such as umbrellas, neon lights, coasters, and apparel. Grills Restaurants and Sunrise Marina will not co-sponsor or seek endorsement from Anheuser-Busch for any local events, such as fishing and golf tournaments that we have jointly promoted for nearly three decades.
“We are going to pray deeply about whether we should vaporize all your brands and corporate corruption from all our restaurants and shift to all locally brewed beer. Decision pending.
“To the gay and trans community. We do love you and all of us have close friends or family who are gay and some who are considering this option.
“ There is no judgment in my heart towards you.
“Life has delt us all a different hand I have no explanation for the pain some have endured.
“I care about you, and I know it’s been a tough ride for many.
Social media users were split on the move.
One said: “I’m shocked and saddened that our world is now one where a business owner can openly spew this kind of hatred and then pretend to be the victim.”
Another said, “Instead of being a loving and accepting person as Christ would want you to be, you are cherry picking parts of the Bible, and throwing a fit over an ad campaign.’
Another said: “I do not tolerate bigots, racists or trans/homophobes in my everyday life and I refuse to eat at ANY establishment that does.”
