Liverpool venue cancels Franklin Graham event

[babylonsister]

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-51255414?SThisFB&fbclid=IwAR2du9DmXtUjIiT0YGe0AW20wFt7UWFl0Zd4XQSPreZ3qlB3FiD17agZhio

Liverpool venue cancels Franklin Graham event
26 January 2020


A conference venue in Liverpool has cancelled an event featuring American evangelist Franklin Graham.

Mr Graham, the eldest son of the late preacher Billy Graham, has said he believes gay marriage is a "sin".

He was due to speak at ACC Liverpool on 12 June as part of a UK tour.

But an ACC spokesperson said it had recently been "made aware of a number of statements which we consider to be incompatible with our values".

"In light of this, we can no longer reconcile the balance between freedom of speech and the divisive impact this event is having in our city.

"We have informed the organisers of the event that the booking will no longer be fulfilled.

"We are proud to represent all communities," the spokesperson added.

The BBC has approached The Graham Tour organisers for a response.

Its website says the events aim "to share the hope of Jesus Christ".

Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson tweeted that the cancellation was the "right" decision.

"Our city is a diverse city and proud of our LGBTQ+ community and always will be," he added.

"We can not allow hatred and intolerance to go unchallenged by anyone including by religious groups or sects."

The tour is scheduled for May and June and is set to include venues in Glasgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Birmingham and London.

When LGBT+ leaders called for the cancellation of the Sheffield visit, Mr Graham said: "I'm not coming to Sheffield to preach against anyone, I'm coming to tell everyone about a God who loves them."

[ProfessorGAC]

1. A Private Concern Turning Down Revenue

Because the event featured a hatemonger!
How refreshing!

[Roy Rolling]

3. That's the whole Jesus Message

Sacrifice your own welfare for the welfare of your neighbor(s).

Ironically, sacrificing personal comforts to benefit others is the exact opposite of the Trump/Republican message themes of “stand your ground” or “lock her up”.

[CurtEastPoint]

8. From what I read the venue is owned by the Liverpool City Council, i.e., public venue.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. According To What I Read...

...it's the equivalent of an LLC, owned by the city.
It's a for profit NGO, sort of like Soldier Field in Chicago or Lambeau in Green Bay.
Owned by the city but independent profit center managed that way.

[CurtEastPoint]

21. ok, but in either case, I'm glad they did what they did.

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Total Agreement! (eom)

[Boomer]

2. "...a God who loves them."

As long as they're celibate and don't get married.

[gratuitous]

10. Yeah, it's a peculiar kind of love evangelicals preach

"Be God's best friend by being totally untrue to yourself and conform to what I say, or that loving God will torture you for all eternity." Thanks anyway, Franklin, but I already have enough psychos in my life without elevating one of them to deity status.

[yellowcanine]

4. Right decision but will feed into the fundie persecution narrative.

Franklin will carry this as a badge of honor, being the small minded douche that he is.

[Ilsa]

11. At least his message will be

Slightly stymied in that area. Sure, he'll get short term PR from it, but his shutting down his hatespeak sets a clear value.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. Stunned and shunned

is the appropriate stance against false prophets, fascists, and hate mongers. They just want worship to perpetuate their own fiefdoms, and stuff their bank accounts.

[Phoenix61]

6. Yeah for Liverpool!

Nice to know the town that gave us the Fab Four is still rocking it.

[Scarsdale]

7. My hometown.

Great city, welcoming everyone who does not preach hatred. Graham has claimed that the nude model/escort claiming to be first lady "Mrs. Trump is the CLASSIEST first lady this country has ever had" Yeah, right, Frankie. He must love her nude photos plus her lies about her educational background. ANY other First Lady has more "class" than this one.

[Duppers]

9. That was my first thought.

[calimary]

16. Yep. Still rockin' it.

[mdbl]

12. Good on ya Liverpool!

Thanks for standing up for what's right.

[Chicagogrl1]

13. Good for Liverpool

Someone didn’t do their due diligence!! Why would anyone want hear this pos speak?!?!

[marble falls]

14. Jesus loves him, but doesn't want him speaking publically.

[B Stieg]

15. More of this...

We need MUCH more of this. Make hatred THE dividing line!

[JohnnyRingo]

17. "...a God who loves them."

Well, not all of them.

[gibraltar72]

18. As a recovering Evangelical

I hope the world wakes up to what a certain type of Christstain true Evangelicals are.

[PandoraAwakened]

19. K&R! n/t