With the LGBTQ community, my community, still sad, angry, and fearful over the massacre in Orlando, FL at the gay nightclub the PULSE in the early hours of June 12, 2016, Americans keep praying for the LGBTQ community and our allies who were victims of the shooting. Even though the prayers have failed to prevent mass shootings by domestic terrorists in the past or present. Many of them have been political leaders, ministers, imams, rabbis, and so many more. I have read comments and commented on the massacre on various media. My argument being the anti-gay rhetoric in the United States has become more vicious and violent as the LGBTQ community has gained equal rights in some cases and lost equal rights in many cases with the advent of religious liberty laws. I specifically called out the FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN community (FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN(S) is highlighted so readers will understand the difference with mainstream Christians). The responses I received were mostly civil — one commenter told me I was an “uneducated, liberal and you need to pull your head out of your ass”. My response I thought was pretty good. I said “I am well educated having received my Bachelor of Science — Communications degree from the University of Missouri — Kansas City (UMKC located in Missouri not Kansas), I am happy being a liberal, and I love my ass and I have been told it is quite nice — I am unable to turn my head around to see since I am limited in my flexibility.
The responses that shook me to the core were from individuals who denied anti-gay rhetoric spouted from FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS’ mouths did not have anything to do with the massacre. They are correct. No one put Omar Mateen’s finger on the gun trigger. But when an individual is constantly subjected to anti-gay rhetoric, he or she will begin to accept much of the words as truth. I wish to reiterate that these anti-gay comments came from some FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN leaders and their followers, not mainstream Christians. Some respondents argued that the rhetoric on the issues of imprisonment and or death of LGBTQ’s, legalization of anti-gay laws, anti-gay adoptions and especially the current anti-transgender laws did not have anything to do with this mass shooting. I beg to differ. Let me say this very loudly, I am not talking about all Christians just anti-LGBTQ FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS who use biblical passages to support their bigoted views.
Being a communications major in college, our professors implored us when arguing, your argument needs to be backed up by truthful information — lacking today in most media (Fox News). Well, here it is. I did some work on this subject. I went to youtube.com and within a few minutes found many videos with vile anti-gay rhetoric. I thank youtube.com in advance for making by job easier. I researched this topic because I was pissed off and wanted to prove my point to some naive readers. The following is only a small number of videos I found. It’s length I hope does not deter you from reading.
The videos are from various internet and TV talk shows hosted by what some may call liberal hosts and their audiences. In some you will see and hear comments which are the hosts’ comments, not mine but these comments are very close to what I believe.
Here they are:
Pastor Roger Jimenez, Verity Baptist Church, Sacramento, CA and
Pastor Steven Anderson, Faithful Word Baptist Church, Tempe, AZ:
(The LipTV published June 14, 2016, youtube.com)
Pastor Steven Anderson, Faithful Word Baptist Church, Tempe, AZ:
(David Pakham Show published December 4, 2014, youtube.com)
Pastor Steven Anderson, Faithful Word Baptist Church, Tempe, AZ:
(kylekutter published December 6, 2014, youtube.com)
Pastor Kevin Swanson, Reformation Church of Elizabeth, Elizabeth, CO:
(Chamber Boys published March 23, 2016, youtube.com)
Pastor Curtis Knapp, New Hope Baptist Church, Seneca, KS:
(David Pakman Show published June 12, 2012, youtube.com)
Members of Providence Road Baptist Church led by Pastor Charles Worly, Providence Road Baptist Church, Maiden, NC:
(The Young Turks published May 25, 2012, youtube.com)
Pastor Dennis Leatherman, Mt. Lake Independent Baptist Church, Oakland, MD:
(The Young Turks published June 1, 2012, youtube.com)
Pastor Dennis Leatherman later apologized as evidenced in the video.
Family Research Council, which has been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (www.splc.org), with President Tony Perkin’s comment:
(RWWblog published August 17, 2012, youtube.com)
Pastor Sean Harris, Berean Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC: which he later lamely apologized for.
(The Young Turks published May 2, 2012, youtube.com)
His lame apology:
(The Young Turks published May 9, 2012, youtube.com)
Apostolic Truth Tabernacle, Greensburg, IN:
(ChristopherHitchslap published May 31, 2012, youtube.com)
At this point either you are asleep or fuming. I hope the latter. Instead of more videos here is a list of the most anti-gay pastors in America.
Pastor Jeff Smith, Emmanuel Baptist Church, Coconut Creek, FL
Minister Andy Gipson, Braxton, Mississippi (Republican State Representative, MS, District 77)
Reverend John McTernan, Defend and Proclaim the Faith Ministries
Pastor Dennis Terry, Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA
Pastor Dennis Leatherman, Mtn. Lake Independent Baptist Church, Oakland, MD
Pastor Curtis Knapp, New Hope Baptist Church, Seneca, KS
Pastor Sean Harris, Berean Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC
Pastor Charles Worley, Providence Baptist Church, Maiden, NC
Pastor Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, KS (deceased) — family has valiantly carries on their hate crusade and anti-gay rhetoric.
Pat Robertson, 700 Club
(List compiled by Mike Young, January 11 , 2013, mic.com)
Need I say more to prove my point. Again, I am not saying with a broad stroke all Christians are complicit in anti-gay rhetoric and its contribution to this massacre, only FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIAN bigots.
Please excuse any grammar mistakes. My memory isn’t as good as it used to be. The End.