FORT WORTH (1080 KRLD) -- The organizer of a Fort Worth outdoor market is taking heat online for excluding a vendor over her sexual orientation.
Carlie Alaniz runs The Lucky Pot Company, selling her decorative pots both online and at various outdoor markets throughout North Texas.
One of those markets earlier this year was the Roots Market on Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth.
"I actually had vended with them back on Mother's Day weekend, and it was a very successful market," says Alaniz. "It was also their very first market in the area."
So since she had success back then, she sought to take part in their market this Saturday morning.
That is, until Alaniz, who identifies as bisexual queer, got an email saying she was no longer welcome.
"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+. We apologize for accepting your application and not doing our research before hand, and we will be refunding you your vendor fee now!"
Alaniz says she was shocked when she received the email, especially since it was not an issue last month.
"Nowhere in the market (application) form did it say that they were biblically based and that they didn't want to work with LGBTQ+ people,"says Alaniz.
Since word got out about Roots Markets' move, its Facebook page has been inundated with negative comments.
"I was very surprised that I had a lot of people rallying behind me," Alaniz says.
The City of Fort Worth says Roots Markets does not need a permit to hold its weekend outdoor market, although it does issue temporary health permits to individual vendors, and that its beliefs do not hinder its ability to run its market.
KRLD has repeatedly reached out to Roots Markets for comment but has yet to hear back.
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