MARSHFIELD, Wisconsin (LifeSiteNews) — An Office Depot subsidiary has refused to print a poster advertising a talk by LifeSiteNews’ Peter LaBarbera.
Rob Pue, the publisher of Wisconsin Christian News, who has used the services of the Marshfield, Wisconsin, branch of OfficeMax since July, asked for posters to be made from two computer files, one advertising LaBarbera’s November 16 talk, “The Homosexual Agenda Exposed.”
After an OfficeMax employee assured Pue that his posters would be done by 10 a.m. the next day, Pue received an email from store manager Jeff Schweiger saying the LaBarbera poster could not be done. When Pue asked if there was a problem with the file, he received the following email from the print supervisor:
Good morning Rob,
Unfortunately we will not be able to print the contents of the poster for Peter Labarbera.
The contents of the poster falls under the prohibited guidelines of our company’s Duplication procedures. We will be able to print the second request for the Veterans poster.
“Thank you for your understanding and let me know if you would like for me to proceed with your second request.
Jeffry A. Costigan
Print Supervisor|Office Depot, INC.
1629 N. Central Ave, Marshfield, WI. 54449
[phone number and email redacted]
Pue told Costigan to go ahead with the second poster and asked for a copy of the “prohibited guidelines.” Instead, Pue told LifeSiteNews, Costigan wrote that he stood by “the decision not to duplicate” Pue’s material.
“Please CANCEL my order for the other poster,” Pue wrote in response. “Our attorneys have already been notified as well as national and international media. In fact, we have a British TV network coming to our event TODAY, so we will be sharing this situation with ALL the Media.
“Our attorneys have stated this is a clear-cut case of blatant discrimination and an open and shut case. There will be protests and a national rallying cry over this decision.
“We are closely affiliated with a national radio network and international media organization. We will spread the word about your policies and refusal of service.
“If Christian bakers, photographers, florists, etc. are not allowed to refuse service, neither is OfficeMax.”
The contentious file features the legend “The Homosexual Agenda EXPOSED” superimposed on a rainbow flag. Below it is printed the following:
“The Homosexual Agenda EXPOSED! Featuring guest speaker Peter LaBarbara
“Peter LaBarbera is president of Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), a non-partisan, non-profit group dedicated to exposing the homosexual-bisexual-transgender activist agendas. Learn about the dozens of pro-homosexual groups in America today with budgets in the millions, working to criminalize and silence the Christian voice, which stands in opposition to behavior that most Americans understand is wrong.
“LaBarbera has debated the top homosexual advocates while appearing on hundreds of TV and radio news programs. Don’t miss this INFORMATIVE and EYE-OPENING presentation by America’s foremost expert on the militant homosexual agenda!
“Thursday, November 16 7:00 PM”
Office Depot made headlines in 2015 when it refused to make 500 copies of a flyer featuring a pro-life prayer by Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life. The business claimed that printing the flyer would violate a company policy forbidding “the copying of any type of material that advocates any form of racial or religious discrimination or the persecution of certain groups of people.”
However, the company reversed its refusal when a lawyer from the Thomas More Society sent Office Depot a letter warning that they had “unlawfully discriminated” against the customer who had placed the order, Maria Goldstein.
Peter LaBarbara told LifeSiteNews, “The pro-LGBTQ non-discrimination laws are essentially corrupt, but they must be enforced equally. If Christian businesses can be forced to bake a wedding cake for a homosexual ‘marriage,’ then you cannot allow corporations like OfficeMax to refuse to do business with pro-family Christians and conservatives.”
Costigan had not responded to an email from LifeSiteNews by press time.