![\"chip-and-joanna-gaines\"](\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Chip-and-JOanna-Gaines.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAn article highlighting HGTV<\/a> hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines’ membership in an evangelical anti-gay<\/a> church has come under attack for speculating about the couple<\/a>’s views on homosexuality.<\/span><\/p>\n “[<\/span>Fixer Upper<\/span><\/i> hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines’ church] Antioch Community Church, is a nondenominational, evangelical, mission-based megachurch. And their pastor, Jimmy Seibert (right), who described the Gaineses as ‘dear friends’ in a <\/span>recent video<\/span><\/a>, takes a hard line against same-sex<\/a> marriage and promotes converting LGBT people into being straight.<\/span><\/p>\n “So are the Gaineses against same-sex<\/a> marriage? And would they ever feature a same-sex<\/a> couple<\/a> on the show, as have HGTV’s House Hunters and Property Brothers<\/a>?”<\/span><\/p>\n The article goes on to detail Seibert and the church’s opinions on homosexuality and same-sex<\/a> marriage. It notes that Seibe<\/span>rt said “God defined marriage, not you and I,” that homosexuality is a sin and that “the statistics say that 90% of people who are in a full-blown homosexual lifestyle were abused in some way.”<\/span><\/p>\n However, Brandon Ambrosino, a gay<\/a> Christian writer who is about to marry his same-sex<\/a> partner, has come to the Gaines’ defense in an article published by the <\/span>Washington Post<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Ambrosino called BuzzFeed’s article a “hit piece”:<\/span><\/p>\n “I have heard from a few well-meaning Christian friends that they feel they can’t attend my [wedding] ceremony. I think that’s silly, I think it’s theologically misguided, and it hurts me deeply because it makes it seem as if they care more about abstract principles than me, their friend and family member.<\/span><\/p>\n “Still, I do not think these conservatives should be shamed or mocked. I do not think they should be fired. And I certainly do not think they should be the butt<\/a> of a popular BuzzFeed article.<\/span><\/p>\n “The entire article is an elaborate exploration of that hypothetical question [do the Gaines’ support same-sex marriage]. And yes, it is very much hypothetical, by the reporter’s own admission…<\/span><\/p>\n “But that does not stop [Kate] Aurthur from writing almost 800 more words about the non-story. Her upshot seems to be: Two popular celebrities might oppose same-sex<\/a> marriage because the pastor of the church they go to opposes same-sex<\/a> marriage, but I haven’t heard one way or the other. (I can’t imagine pitching that story to an editor and getting a green light, by the way.)”<\/span><\/p>\n Ambrosino goes on to examine a number of problems he sees with Aurthur’s piece: it suggests that the one in four people who do not support gay<\/a> marriage are unemployable and that as public figures they are not entitled to moral and religious opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n This targeting of Christians for their beliefs needs to stop. t.co\/LO90sOEx1m<\/a><\/p>\n — Rep. Warren Davidson (@WarrenDavidson) December 1, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Ambrosino also points out that the article backs up “everything that President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters have been saying about the media: that some journalists — specifically younger ones at popular digital publications — will tell stories in certain deceitful, manipulative ways to take down conservatives.”<\/span><\/p>\n He concludes that “it is no longer okay — indeed, it never was — to write cutesy articles shaming religious people as homophobic for simply being one of the many millions of Americans in 2016 who attend a religious congregation that does not support same-sex<\/a> marriage. That is not a good move for activism or journalism.”<\/span><\/p>\n Writing for conservative publication The Federalist <\/a>yesterday, Hans Fiene noted:<\/span><\/p>\n “This could be a great teaching moment for the crusading Left. It would be great for them to learn, via Chip and Joanna Gaines, that not all opponents of same-sex<\/a> marriage are evil…<\/span><\/p>\n “But it seems that BuzzFeed and [other publications] have already chosen their path. Expect them to trash the reputations of yet another couple<\/a> guilty of nothing but holding ‘unpopular’ opinions. And if this keeps happening for the next four years, expect Trump to win reelection with 65 percent of the popular vote.”<\/span><\/p>\n Yesterday, HGTV told the <\/span>Huffington Post<\/b><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n “We don’t discriminate against members of the LGBT community in any of our shows. HGTV is proud to have a crystal clear, consistent record of including people from all walks of life in its series.”<\/span><\/p>\n Chip Gaines responded in veiled fashion to the controversy on Twitter, saying, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE.”<\/span><\/p>\n Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE.<\/p>\n — Chip Gaines (@chippergaines) December 1, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n U know.. even as all hell “appears” to be breaking loose. All I have to do is look at my 4 precious babies sleeping, or kiss Jo good morning<\/p>\n — Chip Gaines (@chippergaines) December 1, 2016<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Meanwhile Pastor Seibert has come forward to say his church is not anti-gay<\/a>. “We are not only not anti-gay<\/a>, but we are pro-helping people in their journey to find out who God is and who He has made them to be,” Seibert said to FOX News.<\/a><\/p>\n Watch FOX News’ report, below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Watch the latest video<\/a> at video.foxnews.com<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Watch the Seibart sermon quoted by Aurthur and an interview with the Chip and Joanna, below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The post ‘Hit Piece’ on HGTV Hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Views on Gay Rights Causes Controversy – VIDEOS<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/a>In a post published on <\/span>BuzzFeed<\/b><\/a> earlier this week, journalist Kate Aurthur notes:<\/span><\/p>\nRELATED: HGTV Cancels Show After Stars Revealed to Be Anti-Gay, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Muslim Extremists<\/em><\/a><\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n