FORT WORTH — Due to their removal of an LGBT vendor, the Christian-owned ROOTS Market on Magnolia was the target of both a protest and a counterprotest during their market last weekend.
The protestors gathered in support of Carlie Alaniz, the “queer” owner of The Lucky Pot Co.
According to Alaniz, she had been a vendor at ROOTS Market on Magnolia on Mother’s Day during their launch. However, soon after their launch, Alaniz said she received an email from the market regarding her association with the LGBT community.
Although she doesn’t strictly market her products to the LGBT community, Alaniz is very public about her sexuality as a queer individual.
Initially, ROOTS Market administrators said they hadn’t done enough research into Alaniz before allowing her to be a vendor during their first week. Once they had looked into her a little more, they discovered Alaniz’ stance as an LGBT individual.
The market sent Alaniz an email explaining that they couldn’t have her as a vendor because their values do not align.
“Hey Carlie, we wanted to clarify some things with you! We first want to apologize for accepting your application and not doing our research before hand,” the email reads. “Our business (the Market) has values just like any other business. Our values are biblically based, we do not have the same views as LGBTQ+… [W]e will be refunding you your vendor fee! Thank you Carlie, and we wish you the best!”
According to the Fort Worth Report, Alaniz “said she didn’t have an issue with the market having its beliefs, but wished it had been upfront or stated in its application form.”
However, when the LGBT community ganged up on ROOTS Market, Alaniz’ responded by thanking them.
Some attempted to send pro-LGBT emails to ROOTS Market on Magnolia, but they unintentionally sent them to a different company called Wandering Roots Markets.
Shea Dardis, co-founder of Wandering Roots Markets, took to Facebook to post some of the emails meant for ROOTS Market on Magnolia.
Notably, several of the emails include explicit terms.
Dardis made a point to mention that her organization is a “safe, welcoming place for all race, religion and sexual orientation. ALWAYS HAVE BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE.”
“Thank you everyone for rallying, celebrating, promoting, for following, for loving and most of all, for being yourself,” Alaniz posted on social media as unfavorable comments toward the Christian market continued online.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was in a lil slump with my business… and little did I know that something DISGUSTING would happen to me, and bring my community to me to support not only me, but the LGBTQ+ community,” Alaniz’ continued.
Despite the opposition, ROOTS refused to back down from their stance:
We would like to address the recent attacks on our market and our core values. We have love and compassion for those who identify as LGBTQ+. And we firmly believe in God’s design for marriage and family. We will continue to welcome all who wish to frequent ROOTS Market, and we will continue to make decisions on who we partner with based on the standards in the Word of God. As a local market, we will not waiver from the truth of the Word of God that our market is founded on. We unapologetically stand by our core values and beliefs. Blessings to all!
Some individuals have accused ROOTS of “weaponizing Christianity,” while others are calling ROOTS administrators “‘Christian’ bigots.”
However, plenty of conservatives agreed with ROOTS’ stance.
“Roots Market was in the right to cut ties with a business that did not align biblically,” conservative activist Carlos Turcios told Texas Scorecard. “And instead of understanding religious freedoms, the radical left used this as an excuse to harass and threaten the market.”
“I applaud Roots Market for their courage to stand for biblical truth,” said Brady Gray, president of Texas Family Project. “It is uncommon in today’s day and time to see this fortitude, and my hope is that the example set by ROOTS Market will cause more Christians to have the courage to be uncommon.”
During ROOTS’ July 15 market, the opposition showed up to protest.
“The LGBTQ mob showed up to harass and intimidate the local Fort Worth Christian Roots Market because the Market refused to associate themselves with a gay business,” said Turcios.
The LGBT protesters waved signs with phrases including “When you threaten my friends, you threaten me (Matthew 25:40),” “Love your neighbor,” “Do not shop here,” and “Homophobes, go home!”
Meanwhile, supporters of ROOTS showed up to counter the protest, armed with American flags, Texas flags, and signs reading “Stop grooming children!” and “Drag shows are never kid friendly.”
“After what the homosexuals did in Dallas, selling b*tt plugs and d*ldos in front of kids, they just can’t be trusted around children period. Roots held the moral high ground,” one citizen tweeted, siding with ROOTS.
“Christians are harassed everyday in the country by the LGBT mob,” said Turcios. “And I think it’s important that conservatives show up to support Christian businesses and defend them.”
July 15 was ROOTS Market’s last summer market. But despite the backlash, they plan to start up again in the fall, with plenty of people looking forward to their return.
As of publication, neither ROOTS Market nor Alaniz responded to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
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