Christian evangelist Franklin Graham has criticized LGBTQ activists who successfully managed to derail his planned tour of the UK.
The US-based pastor, aged 67 – son of the late Billy Graham – was due to appear at eight large towns and cities arenas around the UK later this year, kicking off in Glasgow on May, 30.
Related: Franklin Graham writes an open letter to LGBTQ people: ‘We’re all sinners’
However, following petitions and lobbying, every venue has now canceled his planned appearances.
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Yesterday, Graham took to Facebook to criticize those who had managed to get the tour canceled. He denied being homophobic, and instead asked if his critics are actually “truthophobic” or “free-speech-ophobic.”
“Opposition to the Gospel shouldn’t really surprise us,” he said. “Jesus warned that it would come. As you may know, my eight-city evangelistic tour across the UK has been met with resistance by LGBTQ activists who inaccurately claim that I am homophobic, Islamophobic, and say that I speak hate.
“Anyone who knows me or has heard me speak knows that this really isn’t true—but, I DO preach the TRUTH of the Gospel. Could it be, rather, that these folks are truthophobic or free-speech-ophobic?”
Graham is known for taking a public stand against any advancement in LGBTQ rights.
In the past, the vocal supporter of President Donald Trump has spoken out against banning so-called conversion therapy and against same-sex marriage.
Last August, he backed a New Jersey mayor attempting to ban schools teaching LGBTQ history to children. Graham told a radio show, “I don’t believe that the schools have a right to teach our children something that is an affront to God … God made us and created us, he made us male and female so that we can carry on the population, so that we have children and that we would increase, and homosexuality goes against God’s plan for the human race.”
Related: Lunatic preacher Franklin Graham says Pete Buttigieg will face “eternal damnation”
Graham has said that he still wants to visit the UK and has consulted with lawyers in an attempt to get the venues to reverse their decision.
“We had contracts signed and, in some cases, deposits paid,” he told The Guardian a couple of weeks ago. “I haven’t broken any laws. We are being denied because of religious beliefs and our faith. It’s a freedom of religion issue and also a free speech issue.
“We have attorneys trying to get the venues to reverse their decisions. We certainly have a legal position we’re standing on.”
As yet, none of the major arena venues who dropped him have indicated they will reconsider. If he can’t appear at those venues, Graham has said he will find alternative venues.
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Cam
This is the problem with media in America. They support the bigots by using their language. Calling a hate group backed law trying to legalize bigotry a “Religious Freedom” bill.
In the UK, the media called out Grahams bigotry for what it was.
This is why the entire Republican strategy in the last few years has been to play victim if anybody accurately points out their bigotry.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Will this abhorrent puddle of puke’s kiddie sex scandal break already???
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
And there is one thing that these virulent pernocious smcubags never seen to understand…
We have freedom of religion in this country. You have every right to to practice and live by the tenets of YOUR CHOSEN religion. You DO NOT have the right to IMPOSE those tenets on other citizens who do not have those same beliefs and values…
That is the crux of the nightmare our community is now facing with the advent of the Orange Puppet and it’s Faustian deal with the Evangelical nutbag base.
Den
People like Graham claim their “sincerely” held religious belief includes the imperative to control the behavior of others.
He may whine about freedom of speech, but if his Dominionist buddies get their way, freedom of speech will be the first thing to go, then real religious freedom, and foinally they will get down to the serious business of re-criminalizing homosexuality, re criminalizing abortion in ALL circumstances, reestablishing the death penalty in all states (that’s especially Godly, right?), and reducing women to essentially the property of men.
The Dominionist wing of the “religious right” is undeniably the greatest domestic enemy of democracy and social progress.
chase_boston
blaming the Victim for psychopaths shortcomings is : ………………………………… Ain´t that crazy !!!!
Jared MacBride
Here’s a rotten apple who didn’t fall far from the tree. Like his father before him, little Frankie cares about only one thing: the collection plate. He’ll say anything, no matter who it hurts, to keep the money rolling in.
Mister P
“He speaks the truth of the Gospel. “
Unfortunately for him the Gospel isn’t true
Paul Nadolski
For the record, Jesus never said ONE WORD about homosexuality. Mr. Graham needs a refresher course in the Gospels (which I concede are probably mostly fiction anyway.)
unreligious
For the record Paul there is no historical record of the existence of Jesus. The Bible is hearsay so does not constitute evidence of his existence.
Invader7
@ All of the previous comments: EXACTLY.. Y’all the truth. Something little Frankie can’t handle. He can dish it, but can’t take it. You know there is some scandalous situation bubbling under the surface .ready to blow up in his self righteous face !! Another FRAUDULENT charlatan LYING , GREEDY , two faced , back stabbing HYPOCRITE. He’ll say and do ANYTHING to hold onto his little bit of control & power-which is swiftly diminishing. He cares about power & $$$$… Such a fake, two faced loser !!!
Paton41
Queerty readers, send me $100 and I wil guarantee your place in Heaven!
dannyboi2
hahaha I’ll do it for $50.00…
sillyme
Hey actually the bible was written only by man not Jesus or God, but man and continues to be rewritten by man to this day and will stay that way until someone stands up and tells them to stop with the bull shit of what they are preaching. Gays have been around in the world longer than any written history and the “Romans” were the biggest group of them so we do have allies.
Itsonlythetruth
Truthphobic? According to whose truth?
TimothyBeauchamp
One thing Talibangelicals don’t realize is the U.K. and other countries victimized by Hitler in the 1930-1940’s don’t have the same Freedom of Speech laws. They are more sensitive to right wing discrimination and hate speech. Those countries don’t want or put up with Americans like Graham trying to spread Trumpism. They don’t have to and Franklin needs to sit down and stop trying to export right wing hatred to other countries.
JessPH
UK does not like con artists.
RIGay
Oooo!!! Snappy comeback!
Ignorant moron.