Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

DeSantis' Pastor Sparks Outrage After Defending Uganda's Death Penalty For Gay People

Tom Ascol
@tomascol/Twitter

Tom Ascol, the Baptist pastor who delivered the invocation at the GOP Florida governor's second inauguration, replied with an oft-used passage from Leviticus after Ted Cruz called Uganda's law an 'abomination.'

Florida Baptist pastor Tom Ascol—who delivered the invocation at Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis' second inauguration—has come under fire after he expressed his belief gay people should be put to death.

Ascol—senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral—made the comment on Twitter while criticizing Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz's condemnation of Uganda's "Anti-Homosexuality Act." Cruz's views have drawn widespread condemnation and highlight the ongoing tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, religious extremism and hate speech.


Ascol took to Twitter to respond to Cruz's criticism of Uganda's law, which imposes the death penalty for "aggravated homosexuality."

Ascol cited a King James interpretation of an Old Testament verse from Leviticus 20:13:

"If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them."

He added:

"Was this law God gave to His old covenant people 'horrific and wrong'?"

You can see Ascol's tweet below.

Ascol's statement was met with outrage from both LGBTQ+ advocates and the wider community.

It is important to note the majority of contemporary Christians do not adhere to such extreme interpretations of scripture and reject the notion God condones violence or discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals. But a very vocal minority of primarily Evangelical Christians embrace homophobia, transphobia and Christian nationalism.

Many condemned his interpretation of the Bible and accused him of promoting hate speech.








This is not the first time Ascol has expressed extreme views.

He has previously stated that women who have abortions should be imprisoned for murder.

Ascol was also involved in authoring The Dallas Statement, which denounced same-sex attraction and same-sex marriage as against "God's design." The statement rejected the acceptance of LGBTQ+ Christians and dismissed gender fluidity, intersectionality, radical feminism, and critical race theory as inconsistent with biblical teachings.

The condemnation of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act has exposed divisions within religious conservative circles. While some religious conservatives, like Ascol, have praised such laws, others vehemently oppose them.

Critics argue that these laws contribute to the marginalization, discrimination, and persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals, both in Uganda and globally.

More from News/lgbtq

People Reveal The Dark Secrets They Discovered About Someone After They Died

Sometimes you never know who someone is until they're gone.

Everyone has their secrets.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jesse Watters; Hakeem Jeffries
Fox News; Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Jesse Watters Pathetically Tries To Burn Hakeem Jeffries With Bizarre 'Rule For Men' Rant

Fox News personality Jesse Watters was widely mocked after he criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for having recently shared a photo of himself on Instagram that appeared to be digitally altered—with the bench he was leaning against noticeably warped around his hips.

You can see Jeffries' photo below.

Keep ReadingShow less
Snoop Dogg
Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images

Snoop Dogg's Puppy Instagram Breaks Internet

Snoop Dogg introduced his fans to the newest little bow-wow in his household, a puppy named Baby Boy Broadus.

The adorable small tan French bulldog made his debut on the rapper’s Instagram account on June 28th, sporting a Louis Vuitton leash and chewing on his owner’s Death Row Jacket.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump
DRM News/YouTube

Trump Ripped After Going Off On Bonkers Rant About Room's Decor During Cabinet Meeting

During Tuesday's cabinet meeting while the press was in attendance, MAGA Republican President Donald Trump gave a rambling stream of consciousness speech that went all over the place before landing on paint versus gold leaf, leading people to again question the POTUS' mental acuity amid a notable cognitive decline.

In a disjointed monologue about the decor in the cabinet room, Trump said he stole a grandfather clock from Secretary of State Marco Rubio's office and chose a painting of James Polk because the frame matched the frame around his favorite President—Andrew Jackson.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Eric Adams
@ericadamsfornyc/Instagram

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Roasted After Viewers Notice Awkward Detail In His 'Morning Routine' Video

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was widely mocked after he shared a video on social media of his "morning routine," with time stamps showing his activities—only for viewers to notice that a standard black-and-white wall clock visible in part of the video showed a very different time.

Adams jumped on the latest Instagram trend this week, sharing his version of a “morning routine” video with his followers. The trend, which has already begun to fade, typically features sped-up clips of people going through their early rituals—complete with edits, ambient music, and timestamp overlays.

Keep ReadingShow less