US: Pastor gets death threats for performing same-sex weddings
A pastor in the US state of Kansas has said she won’t give in to death threats she has received for officiating at same-sex marriages in the state.
Reverend Jackie Carter of First Metropolitan Community Church, said windows were broken at the church in Wichita, and that she received threatening phone calls.
“When you’re here and the phone rings, and there’s heavy breathing and two seconds later the doorbell rings and then somebody’s throwing rocks through the windows. All those things combined create fear,” Carter said in an interview with KSN.
Despite the fear created by the threats, she said she would not stop officiating at same-sex weddings.
“I’m not going to change my message of inclusion, I’m not going to change my message of love, and I’m not going to stop marrying people. I’m going to keep it up!” she continued.
“This is ridiculous hatred that has no place in this city or state or this country.”
The US state of Kansas last week began issuing gender-neutral marriage forms amid a battle around same-sex marriage.
Last month the US Supreme Court stopped Kansas from enforcing its ban on same-sex marriage, pending a lawsuit in federal court.
Since then, some of the 105 counties in the state have been issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples, but not all.
