Florida baker threatened after former Arizona pastor's anti-LGBT 'social experiment'
A Florida woman said she received threatening calls at her bakery after being the subject of an Arizona man's "social experiment" regarding same-sex marriages.
WKMG-TV reported that Sharon Haller started getting harassed after she got a phone call from Joshua Feuerstein on Thursday, asking her to make a sheet cake bearing the statement, "We do not support gay marriage."
Feuerstein, who identifies himself as a former pastor, posted video of himself making the phone call online. After asking if it was a prank, Haller said she would not make such a cake. Feuerstein then identified her business and complained that conservative Christian businesses are being forced to accomodate LGBT customers.
"Call her yourself, ask her the same exact questions," Feuerstein tells the viewers. He has referred to the video as a "social experiment."
Haller told the Orlando Sentinel that she has been besieged by hateful phone calls and online remarks since Feuerstein posted the video.
"People said we should go kill ourselves," she said. "They are being very threatening."
Orlando Weekly reported that people supporting Feuerstein have gone so far as to fabricate bad experiences at Haller's business while leaving negative reviews.
According to the Sentinel, Feuerstein's call may have violated a Florida law requiring consent from all parties before any phone call can be recorded. The law also covers phone calls made from another state. Feuerstein took the video down, but the bakery re-posted it on YouTube alongside a link to an online fundraising page for Haller's business, which has served same-sex weddings.
"We work with the gay community," she said. "We work with everybody of all religions or whoever."
Watch WKMG's report on the wave of harassment against Haller, as aired on Friday, below.
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