UK Lawmakers Urge Home Secretary to Ban Hate Preacher Franklin Graham: VIDEO

Lawmakers in England are working to ban hate preacher Franklin Graham from entering the country.

Graham – who receives an annual salary of $620,000 from Samaritan’s Purse – is booked to appear at the Lancashire Festival of Hope in Blackpool next September.

The festival – organised by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association, of which Franklin Graham is president and CEO – is supported by a number of Anglican clergy and churches in the Blackpool area.

RELATED: Franklin Graham Calls Stonewall Inn ‘a Monument to Sin’, Blasts Obama Plans to Recognize It

However, according to the Guardian, several MPs, including a government minister, have urged the home secretary Amber Rudd to refuse UK entry to Graham. A petition against him being granted a visa has gathered close to 7,000 signatures.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd : Stop Hate Speech Preacher Franklin Graham’s Visa to UK – Sign the Petition! t.co/a7SCEcSsGj via @Change

— lisa page (@babygracie68) December 12, 2017

Petition organizer Nina Parker, who is also pastor of Liberty church in Blackpool, said:

“As a Christian and as a leader of a church that particularly welcomes LGBT people, I’m horrified that other local churches are inviting someone with this record of hate speech.”

She added that Graham’s visit had triggered an “enormous amount of protest from Christians” and would be “extremely destructive” in northwest England.

The Guardian reports:

Paul Maynard, a minister at the Department of Transport and a Blackpool MP, has written to Amber Rudd urging caution over Graham’s visit to the UK.

Gordon Marsden, another Blackpool MP who has called on the home secretary to consider refusing Graham entry, said the evangelist may have broken UK legislation on hate speech.

“I think frankly the evidence is piling up that his visit to the UK … would not be a good thing and not probably in my view a very Christian thing.” Graham’s statements were “incompatible with what Jesus said in the Bible”, he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, said he planned to “make representation to the home secretary if it looks like he is intent on coming.”

In an open letter to the Bishop of Blackburn Blackpool, vicars Andrew Sage and Tracy Charnock wrote:

“We are so nervous about this proposed visit and the damage it will do. Our local Imam is already afraid to put his personal address and phone number on their website. We just wish that we could somehow make it clear that our opposition to Franklin Graham’s visit next year is not just a ‘spat’ between two different Christian groupings. We want to express our opposition as Christians, as citizens of the UK and more especially the North West and Blackpool.

“Despite the confusion, and despite the hurt we know it will cause to some of my Christian and indeed Anglican brothers and sisters in Blackpool, like Sajid Javid, we cannot stay silent in the face of such dangerous and outspoken prejudice. To be clear. We are NOT against the Mission, but we are opposed to Franklin Graham leading it.”

In a statement, Blackpool councillor Maria Kirkland said:

“The council’s position on these matters is robust and clear. We want to tackle discrimination, promote equality and increase respect and understanding between people regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation or any such matter that can be subject to prejudice in our society.”

“If matters are brought to our attention that could constitute incitement to hatred, we will forward these to the relevant public authorities and should this be proved we will not hesitate to terminate this booking.”

A Billy Graham Evangelical Association spokesperson said the event “will be a positive and encouraging event with music and also a message from Franklin Graham about the hope that can be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.”

Watch Graham explain his views on homosexuality below.

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UK Lawmakers Urge Home Secretary to Ban Hate Preacher Franklin Graham: VIDEO

BREAKING: Anti-LGBTQ Judicial Nominee Will Not Be Confirmed Following Months of Opposition from HRC

Today, HRC claimed victory as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley announced that Jeff Mateer, a radical anti-LGBTQ judicial nominee, would not be confirmed for a seat on the federal bench. Since the day the Trump-Pence administration announced their intent to nominate Mateer to a lifetime judicial appointment, HRC worked diligently to expose his shameful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and the danger his nomination posed to our judicial system.

“Jeff Mateer’s extreme rhetoric and hateful comments are disqualifying for any public official and should have prevented Donald Trump from nominating him to begin with,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We thank the Senators who expressed concern about this dangerous nominee and the many supporters who joined us to #StopJeffMateer. We will continue to fight back against the Trump-Pence administration’s attempt to appoint extremists across our judicial system and roll back our progress towards equality.”

Trump nominated Jeff Mateer to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. In a 2015 speech titled “The Church and Homosexuality,” Mateer objected to a transgender student using a restroom consistent with her gender identity, saying “I mean it just really shows you how Satan’s plan is working and the destruction that’s going on.” He defended then-Indiana Governor Mike Pence’s ‘license-to-discriminate’ bill and objected to efforts to alter the legislation. Mateer fought against non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community in Plano and San Antonio, Texas, and he even supports the dangerous and debunked practice of so-called “conversion therapy.” Mateer also claimed that marriage equality will lead to bestiality.

HRC lead a robust campaign to #StopJeffMateer and expose his shameful history of attacking LGBTQ people:

• HRC joined a rally with parents of LGBTQ kids, Senators, civil rights organizations, and LGBTQ organizations at the U.S. Capitol
• HRC Calls on Trump to Withdraw Anti-LGBTQ Nominee Jeff Mateer
• Among Scores of Trump-Pence’s Anti-LGBTQ Nominees, HRC Spotlights Five Who Represent Greatest Threat
• HRC joined a letter with 35 LGBTQ organizations urging senators to oppose Mateer
• WATCH: Sarah McBride: Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Jeff Mateer Cannot Provide Equal Justice Under the Law
• WATCH: Mom’s Choice Words for Anti-LGBTQ Extremist Jeff Mateer

www.hrc.org/blog/breaking-anti-lgbtq-judicial-nominee-jeff-mateer-will-not-be-confirmed?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Twitter Crowns Black Voters as True Winners of Roy Moore Race

Black voters kept Roy Moore out of the Senate, and Twitter thinks they deserve more than a “thanks.”

www.advocate.com/politics/2017/12/13/twitter-crowns-black-voters-true-winners-roy-moore-race

Christianity Today issues stunning rebuke of Trump & Roy Moore supporters
“Christianity’s integrity is severely tarnished.”

www.queerty.com/christianity-today-issues-stunning-rebuke-trump-roy-moore-supporters-20171213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Tina Smith, Steve Bannon, Matt Lauer, DeRay McKesson, Mo Brooks Cancer, Dear Evan Hansen, Michael Che: HOT LINKS

MO BROOKS. Congressman who defended Republicans’ plan to allow insurance companies to discriminate against people who have preexisting conditions, which he characterized as personal failings, announces he has prostate cancer.

Martha and I are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support for our family during this difficult time and are optimistic for a full and speedy recovery. t.co/cW6cPPnUbh

— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) December 13, 2017

RUSSIA PROBE. Republicans are champing at the bit to start their own probe of Robert Mueller’s investigation.

DISHEVELED DRUNK. Rep. Peter King sticks fork in Steve Bannon: “It’s not a political issue but a moral issue… this guy does not belong on the national stage. He looks like a drunk that wandered on to the national stage.”

Rep. Peter King: Steve Bannon “looks like some disheveled drunk who wandered on to the political stage” says Alabama vote was a “revulsion by people” of Bannon’s style and political views t.co/EJGw7GI4Is

— New Day (@NewDay) December 13, 2017

#BYEFELICIA. TODAY viewers are apparently thrilled that Matt Lauer is gone.

LAWSUIT. Out Black Lives Matter organizer DeRay McKesson sues FOX host Jeanine Pirro for defamation: “Fox News host Jeanine Pirro smeared Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson by claiming he directed violence against a Baton Rouge police officer in 2016, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday. The defamation case Mckesson filed in Manhattan Supreme Court stems from Pirro’s commentary about a protest over the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling, a black man, on July 5, 2016. Mckesson, 32, had attended a protest over the shooting and was arrested, but charges against him were dismissed — and he and about 185 other protesters later settled a suit against the Baton Rouge police for $136,000.”

LIL PEEP. Rapper died of overdose of Xanax and Fentanil. “The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner on Friday released details from a toxicology report. The budding star, whose real name was Gustav Ahr, was found dead in November on his tour bus ahead of a scheduled concert in Tucson. He was 21. With the report, the medical examiner certified the cause of death as the effects of the pain medication fentanyl and alprazolam, which is used to treat anxiety. The death was certified as accidental.”

AUSTRALIA. Meet the gay couple who will likely be the first to marry: “30-year-old Stephanie Dyball will now legally marry her 32-year-old partner Megan Stapleton next Thursday in regional Victoria. The couple successfully applied for a waiver of the one-month waiting period because their celebrant told them if they provided the evidence to the Births Deaths and Marriages Office they may be given the right to legally marry earlier.”

DEAR EVAN HANSEN. Noah Galvin on how he’s trying to make the Broadway show his own.

MINNESOTA. Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to replace Al Franken: “In selecting Smith, the governor is choosing one of his most trusted advisers and someone who has worked for years traveling the state and building relationships with influential DFLers and business leaders. Smith was Dayton’s first chief-of-staff after careers at General Mills, Planned Parenthood and the city of Minneapolis, where she was chief-of-staff to former Mayor R.T. Rybak.”

SNL. Colin Jost and Michael Che named new co-head writers: “They will join current head writers Kent Sublette and Bryan Tucker. The duo’s appointment brings the number of SNL co-head writers back to four. They fill the void left by the departure of former co-head writers Chris Kelly and Sarah Schneider who left at the beginning of the season to segue to their Comedy Central series executive produced by SNL boss Lorne Michaels.”

GREEN AREAS. A new forest cover map of the U.S.

Forest cover map of the US

TV TRAILER OF THE DAY. Homeland Season 7.

BOYS. The Queer Collective put a call out for anyone who identifies with the word ‘boy’ to make a video inspired by Charli XCX’s Boys music video because we want to showcase the diversity of the word ‘boy.’

TRAILER OF THE DAY. The 15:17 to Paris. The film stars the real-life heroes who thwarted the attack.  Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone.

HUMP DAY HOTTIE. Killian.

The post Tina Smith, Steve Bannon, Matt Lauer, DeRay McKesson, Mo Brooks Cancer, Dear Evan Hansen, Michael Che: HOT LINKS appeared first on Towleroad.

Tina Smith, Steve Bannon, Matt Lauer, DeRay McKesson, Mo Brooks Cancer, Dear Evan Hansen, Michael Che: HOT LINKS

Nyle DiMarco asks for help with his hotdogs and the Internet delivers in full
Weinter is coming.

www.queerty.com/nyle-dimarco-asks-help-hotdogs-internet-delivers-full-20171213?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+queerty2+%28Queerty%29

Joe Biden Comforts Meghan McCain Over Her Father’s Cancer Diagnosis: WATCH

Joe Biden, who lost his son Beau to the same type of aggressive cancer as Senator John McCain (R-AZ) is battling, comforted McCain’s daughter Meghan, now a co-host on The View, when she began crying after addressing the issue on Wednesday’s show.

Said Biden, getting up from his chair to sit closer to McCain: “There is hope, and if anyone can make it, your dad. Her dad is one of my best friends. We’re like two brothers who were somehow raised by two different fathers or something because of our points of view. But I know, and I mean this sincerely, even when your dad got mad at me, saying I should get the hell off the ticket, remember what I said about your dad? I said, I know if I picked up the phone tonight and called John McCain and said, ‘I’m at Second and Vine in Oshkosh and I need your help, come,’ he’d get on a plane and come, and I would for him, too…I swear, guys, we’re going to beat this damn disease.”

Watch the touching moment below:

The post Joe Biden Comforts Meghan McCain Over Her Father’s Cancer Diagnosis: WATCH appeared first on Towleroad.

Joe Biden Comforts Meghan McCain Over Her Father’s Cancer Diagnosis: WATCH