05/30/2012

Washington– The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization – is strongly condemning the latest round of anti-LGBT rhetoric from extremist religious voices. In a disturbing video that is going viral, a child in church is singing a song that concludes with the line “ain’t no homos gonna make it to Heaven” – a line met with wild applause and a standing ovation by the congregation. The Huffington Post reports the Church where the video was shot to be the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Church in Greensburg, Indiana.

Another pastor in Kansas, from the New Hope Baptist Church, is echoing North Carolina pastor Charles Worley’s plans to kill LGBT people. In audio circulating the internet today, the pastor says the United States government should actually go out and kill LGBT Americans.

Sharon Groves, HRC’s Director of Religion & Faith, released the following statement today in response to these events:

“A small handful of extremist voices are hijacking the universal underpinnings of so many of our major faiths and, instead of using their pulpit to spread love, are instead spreading unparalleled hatred. These are extreme and brutal messages that do not represent the beliefs of most people of faith, nor Jesus’ core teaching to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind,' and to love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke, 10:27)  Most people of faith – regardless of their religious affiliation – embrace their fellow LGBT sisters and brothers specifically because they believe their faith calls them to do so. People like Charles Worley and the parishioners of Apostolic Truth in Indiana are falsely perpetuating the Word of God, and stand to do real damage to religious institutions in the process.”

HRC commissioned polling last year that found nearly 75 percent of people of faith believed religious leaders did more harm than good when they condemned LGBT people. The poll also found that 85 percent of people of faith felt their religious beliefs compelled them to support LGBT equality. Learn more about the intersection of religion and equality.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.