US anti-LGBT group to transform gay bar into church

A far-right Christian group has purchased a gay bar in the United States to establish a new church in Ohio.

In January the Greater Toledo House of Prayer purchased Bretz Nightclub, one of Ohio’s longest running LGBTI spaces for a new venue for the International House of Prayer.

Citizens of Toeldo, Ohio have raised concerns about the loss of Bretz, and the new place for the International House of Prayer to gather.

The IHOP have a clear stance against LGBTI rights, outlining such in their mission statement.

“[We] oppose and prohibit living in, practicing, condoning, or supporting sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality, bisexuality, bestiality, incest, gender identity different than the birth sex chromosomal level, pornography, or other sexual immorality,” the statement reads.

The organisation’s leader, Mike Bickle, has also suggested that gay people are open to possession by demons, and that Oprah Winfrey is a “forerunner” to the Antichrist.

“A number of people reached out to me because they felt insulted or upset that the church would choose that location to make their purchase,” Toledo City Councillor Nick Komives said.

“There are a number of other options that they feel were available and didn’t pursue. I think everybody is more curious about what their intent is with the space.”

Members of the local neighbourhood, known as Village on Adams, have thrown their support behind the local LGBTI community.

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