Canadian Restaurant Closed Due to Homophobic Remarks

Dave Claringbould courtesy Morris Mirror

Pots N Hands Closes in the Midst of Mennonite Homophobia and Mennonite Silence
edited 02:00 am, 03 April, 2013, certain material excluded 

   The closure of gay-owned restaurant Pots N Hands in Morris, Manitoba, brings to light the difficulties and potential discrimination often faced by adult gays and lesbians in strongly traditional Mennonite and Hutterite-influenced communities.

    Morris, Manitoba, is located between the two historic Mennonite and Hutterite Reserves in southern Manitoba.  Often referred to as the buckle of Manitoba’s Bible Belt, Morris is about 12% faith Mennonite in town and heavily dominated outside of town by ethnic Anabaptist farms, communities and corporate communities.

    Steinbach, Manitoba, located some 30 miles to the northeast, has recently made national headlines in its fight against Manitoba’s proposed anti-bullying legislation, referred to as Bill-18.  Mennonite politicians from Steinbach’s Sue Penner to Canada’s Vic Toews have weighed in against the bill stating that it threatens the religious freedom and independence of Manitoba’s Mennonite community and that it is in fact, unnecessary.  

    Chef Dave Claringbould and his partner, Matt Rietze, recently of Morris, might beg to differ.

    After being open since only December, 2012, Claringbould and Rietze have notified the community that they are closing Pots N Hands due to the town's demonstrated bigotry and constant anti-gay insults. 

    Arguably, Claringbould and Rietze knew what they were getting into.  Claringould is a trained chef with fourteen years of experience, having received his degree from the Culinary Institute of Canada in Prince Edward Island and working in kitchens in New Brunswick, British Columbia and Manitoba.  In 2010, Claringbould and Rietze moved to the small prairie town of Morris where Claringbould taught cooking lessons.