As Franklin Graham’s UK tour lies in tatters, he really wants you to know he preaches ‘love’, not hate
Pro-Trump hate preacher Franklin Graham (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)
Anti-LGBT hate preacher Franklin Graham has said he was “surprised” at his tour being cancelled because he preaches “love”, not hate.
After weeks of limbo, the preacher’s planned tour of Britain was decimated as venue after venue dropped Graham, citing concerns about his past statements, according to organisers.
The Trump-loving preacher and son of Billy Graham is known for praising Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay laws and blaming gay people for a “moral 9/11”.
Ah, what “love”!
Franklin Graham: ‘I’m here to speak for everyone.’
In an interview with Christian Today, Graham explained that the opposition to his tour has been “taken out of context”.
“I’m not coming to speak against anybody and I don’t assume any groups of people. I’m coming to tell people how they can have a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ.”
He continued: “I’m certainly not here to speak against anyone. I’m here to speak for everyone.”
This echoed Graham’s lengthy Facebook statement issued 27 January addressed to Britain’s LGBT+ community, in which he said he is “coming out of love”.
Hate preacher Franklin Graham. (Justin Sullivan/Getty)
When quizzed by the reporter over his hate preacher status, Graham said: “I don’t think anybody likes that title.
“What I do is try to share the truth and there are some people who just don’t want to accept the truth.
He added: “There are people, when you tell them that they are sinners, they don’t want to hear that they are sinners. They think that this is hateful and angry speech.
“It’s not. In love, I want to warn people and tell them the steps they need to take to have a right relationship with God, and how they can be sure their sins are forgiven.”
Moreover, Graham, an outspoken supporter for US president Donald Trump, clarified he “certainly doesn’t support the president in everything he says or does”.
What happened with his tour?
The tour, which was scheduled to feature a series of messages form the Bible and concerts that impart biblical principles, was set to begin in May.
But convention centres dotting the UK pulled out the evangelist’s from its calendars, with many of the events set to overlap with the nation’s Pride Month celebrations.
Evangelical anti-LGBT preacher
Franklin Graham. (Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
One venue cited the Christian’s views as “incompatible” in a statement.
The Utilita Arena in Newcastle was the final venue to announce it had axed the preacher, following the lead of venues in Birmingham, Newport, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Sheffield and Liverpool.
A London date, also planned, never even secured a venue.
The religious leader previously preached to millions across US stadiums in events called crusades.
In the scheduled tour, he invited the queer community to attend for spiritual guidance, but enforced his stance that homosexuality is a sin.
