US religious leader Franklin Graham has praised US President Donald Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence, for their decision to ban US embassies from flying the Pride flag during the month of June. Graham says their decision recognised that the gay emblem is offensive to most Christians.
June is Pride month in the USA which marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York in 1969. This year is the 50th anniversary of the event which is seen as the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.
The US state department has confirmed that it has turned down requests from multiple embassies who wanted to fly the rainbow flag.
Graham argues that the Pride rainbow flag is offensive to most Christians and the President had shown respect for the will of the majority.
“I want to thank President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for making the decision not to fly the gay flag over our embassies during June in recognition of gay pride month. That is the right decision,” Graham wrote on Facebook.
“The gay pride flag is offensive to Christians and millions of people of other faiths, not only in this country but around the world. The U.S. flag represents our nation—everyone—regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation,” the religious leader said.
In April Graham attacked presidential hopeful Pete Buttigeig over his sexuality and Christian beliefs. Graham took aim at the presidential hopeful and in a series of tweets said homosexuality is something that people should be ashamed of.
“Mayor Buttigieg says he’s a gay Christian,” Graham wrote. “As a Christian I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as sin, something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized. The Bible says marriage is between a man & a woman — not two men, not two women.”
“The core of the Christian faith is believing and following Jesus Christ, who God sent to be the Savior of the world — to save us from sin, to save us from hell, to save us from eternal damnation.” Graham wrote.
raham toured Australia in February 2019, during his trip he met with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Kirribilli House in Sydney.
OIP Staff
