Christian store owner refuses to print posters for a gay pride event: Read his cruel email to the organisers: ‘Obey what the bible teaches’
- WorldPride roller derby event denied service by Christian printer
- The ‘Pride Fight’ is a part of opening festivities on Friday
- The printer states that printing the flyers opposes his beliefs
A printing store has refused to print posters for a gay pride event on the eve of Sydney‘s WorldPride festival.
The Sydney CBD franchise of Kwik Kopy denied a printing request for the official ‘Pride Fight’ Roller Derby event that’s held tonight.
The store owner, Wing Khong, wrote a brutal email to the event organisers after they requested his printing services.
‘We are into our 40th year of business, and it has always been our aim to provide a consistent level of service and reliability. Leo, I am unable to print this job for you,’ he said.
‘I am a Christian, and my faith requires me to obey what the Bible teaches. I hope you understand.’
That’s despite it being illegal for businesses to refuse goods or services to people based on sexuality or gender.
Wing Khong, the owner of a Kwik Kopy franchise in Sydney’s CBD refused to print posters for a gay pride event
Roller Derby skater, Leo Bunch, 33, said she was shocked after receiving the email.
‘It’s 2023, I just walked through two train stations absolutely smothered in Pride flags, and the content they weren’t happy to print was some logos for the different teams.’
‘It’s common for fans to bring homemade signs, and for WorldPride, we wanted to provide them.
‘There’s nothing particularly inflammatory, nothing sexual about them. I’m in shock.’
The team names are Butches, Femmes, Sparkles and Rainbows, which references to gay stereotypes. Roller Derby events are popular with lesbian women.
A Christian franchisee of printing store, Kwik Kopy, has refused to produce flyers for the ‘Pride Fight’ roller derby event
Kwip Kopy CEO, Sonia Swabsky, quickly issued an apology after finding out about the incident and offered to print the flyers for free.
‘We are genuinely sorry for the recent experience Leo had at one of our centres,’ Ms Swabsky said.
‘This is by no means reflective of our values and code of conduct, of which every franchisee is versed. Our organisation embraces a richness of cultures, and a look into the make-up of our teams to reinforce our stance on diversity.’
Ms Swabsky confirmed she is ‘currently in direct discussions with the franchise owner involved’.
Kwik Kopy CEO, Sonia Swabsky, apologised to the Sydney Roller Derby League and is in talks with the franchisee
