John Howie is chef and owner of Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar in Seattle and a few other restaurants, including a concession at CenturyLink Field, where the Seahawks play.

After it was disclosed on Monday that Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and his fiance, the singer Ciara had moved their wedding out of North Carolina because of HB2, a reporter uncovered the fact that the Chef had donated $1000 to the Washington transgender hate group Just Want Privacy, which failed to qualify a similar law for the November ballot.

After an intense 24 hours, he posted an apology Thursday at Facebook.

I’m sorry to the people that I have harmed or negatively affected with my words and my actions. It’s not who I am, and it’s not who I want to be.

My concerns about the proposed law were based on fear and not facts.

--Chef Howie

Visibly upset, he says he’s developed “a much better understanding of how this law would’ve effected many in the community, especially those in the LGBTQ community, and especially those who are transgender."

I understand that, and I do not support… the proposed law, or would I ever, again, support a proposed law that would affect people negatively as this would have.

--Howie

Howie emphasizes that support of the LGBTQ community is integral to his company — “a part of who we are at our core… and it is who we are going to be from here on out.”

I have struggled greatly to know that my actions have hurt people that I love and care about. I promise in the future that I will be more diligent, that I will research more carefully, that I will understand the things that I choose to support and make sure that they are the right choice.

I ask that you would forgive me. It’s truly my belief that God loves all people, and that with love and respect, we can all live together.

--Chef Howie