House of Mercy, the homeless shelter in Columbus, Georgia, that’s accused of kicking out two women for being lesbians, isn’t changing its No Gays Allowed policy even after the media firestorm. Bobby Harris, the shelter’s director who previously went on camera to defend Mercy’s Bible-based rules, continues to say the women were ousted for breaking house rules. Writing in a Columbus Ledger-Enquirer public letter, Harris says, “We have learned many lessons over the years and as a result, we have strict standards of conduct, curfew, language, dress and very clear policies on fraternization, regardless of sexual orientation of the parties involved.” What he doesn’t address is whether or not the women were kicked for breaking the rules, Mercy still bars sexually active gays. To counter Harris’ position, WRBL interviews openly gay Pastor Colley Williams, who was kicked out of a number of churches for his sexuality, before deciding to form his own inclusive house of worship. And for every Biblical passage Harris cites to rationalize his discrimination, Williams has one to denounce it.
house of unmerciful
RJ
Seriously, WRBL? I’m more pissy that this news organization used “practicing homosexuals” and “who lived a gay lifestyle” language in their report.
I wonder if the House of Mercy’s state of Georgia grant requires they adhere to non-discrimination policies.
Of course, we would much rather hear a report from the two women kicked out instead of a vague description of why they were kicked out.
“They weren’t kicked out for being gay. They were kicked out for ‘violating curfew regulations'”.
Either way, this Elder makes one thing clear. When it comes to the two women who were kicked into the streets, there was most definitely no room at that particular inn.
Steve
I wonder if this asshat would’ve still kicked them out of they were younger, say teenagers. That’s why all of these anti-gay people are hypocrites: they ALWAYS claim to be protecting the children, but they obviously don’t give a fuck about gay kids, or else they would be in full support of anti-bullying policies, equal rights, teaching diversity and tolerance, but instead they preach rhetoric and set examples of hatred like the vile scum they are and create climates of intolerance and evil that drives gay kids to kill themselves.
Kev C
Maybe if he had some plastic furniture covers he wouldn’t have to worry about gays sexing everything in the shelter. Or stain guard.