Evangelical preacher Franklin Graham’s upcoming tour of the United Kingdom faces being seriously derailed. So much so, Graham felt moved to write an open letter to LGBTQ people opposing his visit to assure them he’s not a hate preacher and claiming “My speech doesn’t hurt anybody.”
The 67-year-old, US-based pastor, 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: Pray to keep Chick-fil-A anti-gay, says evangelist Franklin Graham
However, when news of his appearances spread, LGBTQ campaign groups began to raise their voices in protest.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
As the controversy around his tour grew, the ACC Liverpool conference center was the first to cancel his appearance. It said Graham’s views were “incompatible” with the venue operator’s own.
In response, Graham took to Facebook earlier this week to publish a “letter to the LGBTQ community in the UK.”
He begins by saying, “It is said by some that I am coming to the UK to bring hateful speech to your community. This is just not true.”
Instead, he claims to be bringing only “good news” – that homosexuality is a sin, that everyone is a sinner, and we can all be forgiven by God.
“I’m not coming to the UK to speak against anybody, I’m coming to speak for everybody. The Gospel is inclusive. I’m not coming out of hate, I’m coming out of love.
“I invite everyone in the LGBTQ community to come and hear for yourselves the Gospel messages that I will be bringing from God’s Word, the Bible. You are absolutely welcome.”
Related: Brits are furious Franklin Graham is coming to England to spread anti-LGBTQ “love”
The letter has not had the desired effect. Yesterday, the 13,600-capacity Sheffield Arena also canceled his appearance, due June, 6. The venue operator said it “does not endorse” Graham’s views.
The cancellation came after 22 LGBTQ groups wrote an open letter to Sheffield City Trust, which operates the venue, protesting Graham’s visit.
Open letter from #Sheffield's #LGBT+ Communities to @Dgreymbe @SIV_Social calling for the cancellation of homophobic hate speaker Franklin Graham's tour @SheffieldArena #SheffieldAgainstHate pic.twitter.com/F0RqEUWsXo
— Heather Paterson ???? ???? (@heatherpaterson) January 16, 2020
Graham is known for taking every available opportunity to speak out 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.
Besides the canceled dates in Liverpool and Sheffield, Graham is due to appear in Glasgow, Newcastle, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Birmingham, before returning to the UK in October to appear in London. At least one other venue is believed to be holding discussions on whether to allow his visit to go ahead.
Related: Evangelist Franklin Graham thanks Donald Trump for banning the Pride flag
JessPH
I pity the fools who are buying tickets and giving their money to this con artist.
blackhook
Exactly! The only reason jerks like Frank exist is because certain people are dumb enough to fall for his bizarre, hateful hocus pocus dominocus.
Smith David
You know, I grew up in the church and so I know methods and such used to reach souls for Christ. However, this is where he lost me”Graham,the vocal supporter of President Donald Trump”.
This is one of the reasons people need to know god for themselves. I will never understand how Christians can support someone like Trump a man so flagrantly racist and immoral.
blackhook
Or better yet, #ImagineNoReligion … #ItsEasyIfYouTry
Billysees
Smith David writes —
… people need to know god for themselves.
Of course. That’s another way of saying to ‘work out your own salvation or spiritual understanding’ ………… Phlippians 2:12
throwslikeagirl
‘Bye, Felicia.
HankHarris
Speak for yourself asshole. Sin is a concept created by man to control and judge other people. It doesn’t exist.
Matthewnow
Good for you. Just remember, it’s a dry heat.
Jared MacBride
The people who pay attention to this third rate con artist should watch the movie “Elmer Gantry.”
Josh in OR
No, Frankie. We aren’t all sinners. Sin is some bullshit your kind invented to force the rest of us to fall in line. We’re human, which means we’re all FLAWED, which is a Very Different Thing.
Take your hate (that you pretend is actually love) and shove it up your coin slot, you gross, Boomer bigot.
blackhook
Franklin’s daddy was a little more subtle in his hatreds — and he sucked up to presidents because it was good for his religion bu$ine$$ …but Franklin has gone full-bore, right-wing hater. Good riddance to bad evangelical trash!
Rocinante
I would have zero problem bashing his skull into pieces if I was given the go ahead by the law. He’s not human as far as I’m concerned.
rbernard
Rubbish – it is all an act.
Franklin Graham is another scam artist that is attracted to Donald Trump, just like all the other scamvangelists are attracted to him.
They are all the same.
They all use their inflamed oratory to incite hatred of others to galvanize people together and motivate those followers into a force that will line their pockets.
It is the oldest scam in history and unfortunately, it works.
Birds of a feather, stick together.
Mfrid
They can’t even take care of and love their own children unconditionally.
The most evil people in the world are hetero’s….they have such hate. It’s unreal and this guy is a catalyst of it, hiding behind the bible.
What is true, is that we are all going to heaven and will be judged on how we lived our lives…hurting others and not loving unconditionally will be dealt with…I know, I’ve been there.
So, just love and help others… that’s what it’s all about…unconditional love!
Being gay is NOT an issue.
niles
His whole existence is defined and maintained by hate speech. He has used the blind hatred and fear of homosexuality to his financial advantage for years and years. The only difference now is that his views are endorsed by the full weight of the United States government. If the UK wants to follow our example (and judging by the recent election it does), then go ahead and let loose these scammers on your land. They will poison everything they touch in the name of Jesus, while raking in the cash. You have been warned.
MikeGinMN
Like so many other evangelicals… Graham has decided to selectively use and interpret the bible for his own profit. It is disgusting to listen to these charlatans… con artists… using their fame and money to attack others… all in the name of Jesus.
Graham and so many others have lost their christian values… something supposedly VERY important to them… and have created some alternate reality where they are still devout and responsible christians who are misunderstood and unfairly judged.
These evangelicals are the Kardashians of christianity.