Christian bridal shop temporarily closes after receiving threats for turning away lesbian customers

A Christian-owned bridal shop in Pennsylvania has temporarily closed its doors to the public after its owner started receiving threats for turning away a lesbian couple who were looking for a wedding dress.

The owner of W.W. Bridal Boutique in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania has decided to temporarily close down the shop and only accept appointments after receiving violent threats on voice mail and social media.

The threats came after the shop reportedly turned away a lesbian couple who were shopping for a dress for their March 2018 wedding.

Shannon Kennedy and Julie Ann Samanas visited the shop on July 8 and tried to submit a form containing their information, but an employee reportedly told them that the shop would be unable to help them after learning that the dress would be for a same-sex wedding.

"She said, 'I don't know if you've heard, but we're Christian and we don't believe in that; our faith doesn't let us believe in that,'" Kennedy recounted.

The couple walked out of the shop without incident but later took to Facebook to discuss how they were denied service.

Co-owner Victoria Miller insisted that the shop serves homosexuals, but cannot assist with same-sex events because it would be considered as a form of personal participation.

However, some LGBT supporters who learned about the incident decided to send violent threats to the boutique.

West Virgina-based pastor Rich Penkoski, who runs the online ministry "Warriors for Christ," has volunteered to take over the administrative duties on the bridal shop's Facebook page.

An audio of a threatening voice mail received by the shop on Tuesday was shared by the pastor with The Christian Post.

"You stupid f****** bigots. We are coming for you and your family," a man declared in the voicemail.

"We are going to tear your shop a part and make you feel as bad as you have made people feel. You f****** bigot scum. You are going down and so is all your employees and their families. You're done!" the man continued.

The pastor said that W.W. Bridal already went through a similar experience in 2014 after the shop refused an appointment for a same-sex couple because of the owners' Christian faith. He noted that Miller also closed down the shop at the time until the controversy subsided.

Penkoski, who has also been receiving threats for running his online ministry, stressed that he does not work for W.W. Bridal and is only trying to help the shop during this time.