South African government warns US ‘kill the gays’ pastor not to preach hate on visit
The South African government has warned a US pastor who advocates the killing of gay people that he could face charges or deportation for hate speech on a visit.
Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Phoenix is one of America’s most homophobic pastors.
In a previous sermon he directly called for the execution of gay people by stoning, claiming: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. That, my friends, is the cure for AIDS. It was right there in the Bible all along.”
He openly celebrated the Orlando massacre last month, telling his congregation: “The good news is that there’s 50 less paedophiles in this world, because, you know, these homosexuals are a bunch of disgusting perverts and paedophiles.
“That’s who was a victim here… just a disgusting homosexuals at a gay bar.”
Praising the actions of the shooter, he said: “There is a full-on war going on! A bunch of filthy sodomite perverts are at war with us!”
The pastor is planning to head to South Africa this month to convert more people to his extreme cause – bu LGBT groups have urged the government to deny him entry.
According to South Africa’s Independent Online, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba discussed the issue while meeting with LGBT leaders and the South African Human Rights Commission on Monday.
In the meeting, Gigaba suggested the option to block the visit was still on the table.
He added: “We have weighed the options available regarding the visit of the United States pastor. We’ve also considered the letter from the SA Human Rights Commission and the position of the LGBTI community.
“This is a highly sensitive matter that had to be tackled with extreme caution. If it is his intention to visit South Africa again, it would be in his best interest to behave in accordance with our laws.
“There will be serious conditions attached to this visit; we will not hesitate to deport or charge him for wrongdoing.”
