Some businesses, organizations and community leaders are severing ties with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce after learning of the chambers endorsement of Bill Schuette for Governor.
In two statements on Facebook, Founders Brewing Company, the Winchester and Donkey Taqueria said that they had cancelled their memberships with the chamber.
“Based on Bill Schuette’s political record of working against LGBTQ’s civil rights, and the rights of women and other marginalized communtiies we made the decision to suspend our partnership with the Chamber and OutPro,” Thomas Pierce, executive director of the Grand Rapids Pride Center said.
Pierce added he hopes other business use their power to make a change happen.
“The power that they have in this situation is to cancel their membership," he said. "I think that makes a financial statement to the chamber, and I think it makes a statement to our community.”
The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce denied a request for comment.
This backlash comes after Attorney General Schuette formally stated that the state’s civil rights law does not protect gay and transgender people.