Donald Trump to speak at summit for listed anti-gay hate group
(Photo By Chris Kleponis – Pool/Getty Images)
Donald Trump will speak at a summit for a listed anti-LGBT hate group alongside Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, despite efforts to appear more ‘gay friendly’.
The reality TV boss, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican Presidential nomination, was confirmed today to speak at this weekend’s Values Voter Summit, organised by the Family Research Council.
The Family Research Council is listed as an active anti-LGBT hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, due to overt homophobia and militant opposition to LGBT rights.
Tony Perkins, the President of the FRC, has been slammed in the past for repeated comparisons between gay rights and the Holocaust, but both he and his group continue to be prominent in conservative politics.
Perkins, who recently called for God to strike down President Obama for putting up rainbow lights at the White House, previously blamed gay people in the military for suicides in the armed forces.
Perkins previously claimed the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage could lead to “revolution”.
However, despite the group’s hate group status and homophobic record, seven of the Republican Presidential candidates will speak at their event this week, including Trump.
Perkins said in a statement: “Those candidates coming to the Summit are showing that they value social conservative voters and want to have a conversation with them. We will encourage attendees to take the candidates’ presence into account as they cast their vote in the straw poll.”
Rick Santorum, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Dr Ben Carson and Lindsey Graham will also speak at the event, as will Kentucky clerk Kim Davis
However, Jeb Bush – currently polling second in the race – is not present on the line-up, as is the only female Republican candidate Carly Fiorina.
Trump’s presence on the line-up is a surprise as he has attempted to shift on gay rights in recent months, declaring opposition to same-sex marriage a “dead issue” and supporting LGBT employment rights.
Just last month a Family Research Council pundit claimed that the military now embraces paedophilia and bestiality – because gay soldiers are now welcome.
