Notorious homophobe Franklin Graham will need to find a new hobby. Officials for the state of New York have ordered Graham and his charity organization Samaritan’s Purse to shutter their Central Park tent hospital.
Graham and Samaritan’s Purse attracted immediate scrutiny over opening overflow medical facilities in Central Park to aid in the COVID-19 crisis. Mayor Bill de Blasio claimed to have received assurance from Graham that neither he nor Samaritan’s Purse would discriminate against queer New Yorkers during the pandemic. Graham reneged on that word almost immediately, forcing volunteers for Samaritan’s Purse to sign a document decrying marriage equality. He also publicly compared LGBTQ people to drug addicts.
Related: Franklin Graham says he’s not homophobic, LGBTQ folk are “truthophobic”
Now PinkNews reports New York has had enough. New York City council speaker Corey Johnson–an openly gay man–called on Samaritan’s Purse to pack up and get out. “It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave New York City. This group, which is led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham, came at a time when our city couldn’t in good conscience turn away any offer of help,” Johnson declared. “That time has passed. Their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBT+ community.”
“I am aware that our battle against COVID-19 is still ongoing, and that our health care system – and the amazing workers who have been the heroes of this unprecedented time in our history – still needs support,” Johnson added. “At the city council, we are committed to supporting those workers and protecting our city’s public health. But as a city that values diversity and compassion for all, we cannot continue to allow a group with the track record of Samaritan’s Purse to remain here when we are past the point they are needed.”
State senator Brad Hoylman gave a more succinct declaration, saying Graham should “pack up his tents and leave New York City for good.”
With the COVID-19 infection rate curbing in the Big Apple, Graham has two weeks to dismantle the Samaritan’s Purse tent hospital and leave the area.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Satan’s Purse
Josh447
Times are achangin. A+ for NY.
Chrisk
Is it any wonder why this shithead is banned from most of Europe? They get it and apparently so does New York.
Josh447
Yeah I wonder how his European lawsuits are fairing.
Den
There are several American evangelical “preachers” that have been banned from numerous European countries. Every time they try to enter a new one they get banned. Most of the EU, and Great Britain takes the secular nature of their nations and equality for all very seriously. The US is one of a dwindling number of developed democracies that welcomes faith based discrimination.
Evji108
Bye Felicia and don’t let the tent flap snap you on the butt.
Cam
The problem we have had in America is that we’ve let racists and bigots use other wording to describe these things. They hide behind words like “Religious beliefs” or “Traditional Values” and the media aids them in this.
Graham is just a typical old school bigot who fleeces people for money.
Harley
You know what it says about someone who is so obsessed with homosexuality they can’t shut up about it. Heterosexuals who are secure in their sexuality have no problems with gay people.
Mister P
Bye girl!
ptseti
ahhh how refreshing it is when a State can tell a phony, hypocrite who calls himself a Religious Man to GTFOH….with a broad smile on their face
Saps48
I know this Graham guy is an unmitigated fool, even going so far as to post that Pete Buttigieg will face “eternal damnation” if he doesn’t repent, but I would be interested in seeing the actual document or reading the actual words that the volunteers were forced to sign.
nmharleyrider
Bravo NY.
boymikefl
When the money runs dry, he’ll have a “Come to Jesus” moment. These charlatans need to report their salaries.
They’re crooks like their buddies donald duck & minnie mouse.
Daggerman
…these no brainers ought to be silenced. Homophobes are plain stupid. Being gay IS natural. Until all homophobes learn this fact of nature they will remain ignorant and irritants!!!
enlightenone
Frankie is right, he is not a homophobe. He is a sociopath with a book, written by controlling males in his hands!
dannyboi2
He’s a closet case, jealous he can’t be the out Queer he is.
4of14
The Graham Family Circus, and they pitched a tent right in the heart of the city. Step right up, for the small price of your soul, or your conscience, you can be admitted to the Greatest Show on Earth.
Oh for Gods sake! When will New Yorkers, and the rest of the world wake up? You’d think P.T. Barnum had never been to NYC before.
GayEGO
Excellent news! Franklin Graham needs to follow the advice he has been touting on TV, tell God he is a sinner and he accepts Jesus as God’s son. He should come out of the closet and admit who he is, maybe that will stop his hating himself for being gay!
Gary Q VV
Samaritan’s PURSE: the name says the main mission of this godless “religious business”. It’s all about moneymaking and having the poor followers gleam up to him. What a joke! NYC made me proud to kick Graham’s sorry ass out of town. Let this be a lesson to other homophobic “religious businesses” – don’t f**k with LGBTQ people – we bite!