US: Creationist theme park refuses to hire gays, pretty much anyone else
A Creationist theme park in Kentucky is refusing to hire gay people, or anyone who doesn’t agree that the Earth is 6000 years old.
The fundamentalist Christian Ark Encounter park – which will contain reproductions of Biblical stories – has been approved for $18 million in tax incentives from the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority.
However, the Lexington Herald-Ledger reports that the organisation, headed by Creationist Ken Ham, will only hire people if they sign a ‘statement of faith’ banning homosexual conduct.
In addition to the statement of faith, employees also have to sign a ‘creation statement’ agreeing that God created the world 6000 years ago, banning anyone who does not confirm to fundamentalist ideology from applying.
A job ad from the park, claims: “Our work at Ark Encounter is not just a job, it is also a ministry.
“Our employees work together as a team to serve each other to produce the best solutions for our design requirements.
“Our purpose through the Ark Encounter is to serve and glorify the Lord with our God-given talents with the goal of edifying believers and evangelizing the lost.”
The park, which is currently being built, will contain a reproduction of Noah’s Ark – complete with “animatronic, live and static” animals, the Tower of Babel, and an exhibit explaining how fossils were created by God.
Defending the decision to award tax incentives to the project, Kentucky finance board chairman Keith Williams said: “They could produce a good amount of tourism for the state of Kentucky.
“It could help the hotel industry, the restaurant industry in that entire area. So if that is the case, and it does boost tourism, then they, yeah, they meet that criteria.”
