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An Evangelical Christian pastor at a Texas city council meeting spent his time at the microphone spreading bigotry and inciting violence as his followers in the audience cheered him on.
Jonathan Shelley, leader of the homophobic Stedfast Baptist Church addressed the city council of Arlington, Texas. He expressed his outlook on the city’s support of June's LGBTQ+ Pride celebration.
He condemned it using nonsensical arguments.
\u201cChristian hate-preacher Jonathan Shelley spoke at today's Arlington (TX) City Council meeting against an acknowledgment of Pride Month.\n\nHe insisted gay people deserved to be executed.\n\nHis supported (who filmed the exchange) applauded him, but many others openly jeered.\u201d— Hemant Mehta (@Hemant Mehta) 1653443467
According to Shelley,
“I don't understand why we celebrate what used to be a crime not long ago. God has already ruled that murder, adultery, witchcraft, rape, bestiality and homosexuality are crimes worthy of capital punishment.”
As he spoke, Shelley was supported by the person taking the video and a few others of his flock saying “Amen” in agreement with his statements. Though at the end, it was revealed to be only people in a single section.
Shelley’s arguments gay people deserved death stemmed from misinterpretations Old Testament scripture in Leviticus.
But all debates about those aside, the United States of America is not a theocracy.
The Constitution is clear on not installing or imposing a single religion.
\u201c...Texas, for when Florida isn't crazy enough for you.\u201d— Think Atheist \ud83c\udf10 (@Think Atheist \ud83c\udf10) 1653817271
\u201cThere is no love like "christian hate"\nA pastor who addressed a city council meeting in Arlington, Texas told the council and the crowd that gay people should be executed as people in the crowd said \u201cAmen\u201d and \u201cYup.\u201d\nhttps://t.co/pzcPJxpdY9\u201d— Grandpa Jones says BALONEY! \ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udebb\u26a7\ufe0f (@Grandpa Jones says BALONEY! \ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83d\udebb\u26a7\ufe0f) 1653922511
\u201c@chrislongview @CMargaronis I can\u2019t get out of here fast enough.\u201d— Florida Chris (@Florida Chris) 1653692430
\u201cPastor tells city council that gay people should be slaughtered. The hateful preacher demanded that the city shouldn't honor Pride month. Instead, he tried to get public officials to agree to execute gay people. https://t.co/kTZTD9s2qT\u201d— 75338 (@75338) 1653848293
\u201cThis just makes me sad. So very sad. There\u2019s not one ounce of compassion or empathy. Just pure judgment.\u201d— I\u2206N SH\u039eN \u26a1\ufe0f (@I\u2206N SH\u039eN \u26a1\ufe0f) 1653779867
\u201cPastor tells city council that gay people should be slaughtered. The hateful preacher demanded that the city shouldn't honor Pride month. Instead, he tried to get public officials to agree to execute gay people.\n\nArlington Texasshole!!!\u201d— Mark Garber (@Mark Garber) 1653765031
Shelley often spews hateful rhetoric, reciting pseudoscience data claiming gay men have higher rates of disease.
However, this misses context.
Studies show homophobia and stigma increase homelessness and risky behavior among LGBTQ+ people, and makes medical interventions more difficult.
Shelley also tried to claim the “average” LGBTQ+ person molests children.
\u201cWhere do these evil \u201cpastors\u201d come from? Now where did Jesus say that exactly? Give us the book, chapter & verse.\u201d— Fran Sparks (@Fran Sparks) 1653684452
\u201c@chrislongview This is where freedom of speech gets hairy. It\u2019s basically inciting violence against a protected group. I wouldn\u2019t be opposed to this being criminal given how outrageously and objectively horrific it is\u201d— Florida Chris (@Florida Chris) 1653692430
\u201c@garysimonds6 In Canada, there is freedom of expression, but there are limits to it.\u201d— Gary R Simonds (@Gary R Simonds) 1653684126
\u201c@chrislongview These people must be evil. I just can't fathom.\u201d— Florida Chris (@Florida Chris) 1653692430
Shelley and his church are known for their hate and bigotry.
During last year’s Pride in Florida, he cheered a fatal accident that killed three people.