Horrid Homophobe Billy Graham. Sign the petition for Harris to disavow Evangelicals for Harris.
I am posting this since the Kamala Harris campaign is invoking him as some type of hero. Christian nationalism might be walking in through the back door.
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Sign the petition asking that Kamala Harris disavow Evangelicals for Harris and their homophobes.
This is the link to the petition.
The Internet Archive is down, so I am saving all the articles as pdfs.
Introduction
Christian nationalism might come into influence or power in more than one way with more than one public face.
Recently the Kamala Harris campaign group, Evangelicals for Harris has started publishing videos of homophobe Billy Graham to campaign for Evangelical votes. Billy Graham was dreadful for Gays and dreadful in general. Currently there is the Billy Graham Foundation which is currently carrying on an anti-Gay campaign.
Using him to get votes represents complete contempt for the humanity of Gays.
This is not the first time, that the Kamala Harris campaign has used a notorious homophobe in her campaign. Dwight McKissic was one of the Evangelicals that was part of a big event for the Evangelicals for Harris campaign. I will put a link to that post report at the end of this post.
I am going to have a petition to ask that Kamala Harris stop running the Billy Graham ads and apologize for invoking Billy Graham.
When I do, I will put a link to the petition here. I expect to have the petition within a day.
The Evangelicals involved in the Evangelicals for Harris will expect some reward in the administration of Harris if she is elected. If that coalition of Evangelicals for Harris includes homophobic Evangelicals and further invokes major homophobic Evangelicals we can expect that whatever agenda for the LGBT Harris might have promised it will be limited by what her homophobes helping her get elected expect.
If a candidate was running for office with both the support of the NAACP and the Klan, you would suspect one of those two groups is being scammed.
I will review the record of Billy Graham and then follow with the Billy Graham Foundation.
The Kamala Harris ad invoking Billy Graham.
You can view the Harris campaign ads invoking Billy Graham at their website.
The ad is currently the lead item on their home page.
https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/
And on their advertisment page.
https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/ads
You won’t find the ad at the Kamala Harris YouTube page.
https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelicalsForHarris
https://www.youtube.com/@EvangelicalsForHarris/videos
Charismactivism had the ad online.
However the ad was put online by Thomas Longbotham.
It is also mentioned at their X account.
Here they announce their ad. Billy Graham was close to Richard Nixon so he didn’t live what he preached.
Our newest ad has dropped.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 But you must realize that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centered and greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and abusive without any regard for their parents. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, reverence, and normal human affection. They will be remorseless, scandal mongers, uncontrolled and violent and haters of all that is good. They will be treacherous, reckless, and arrogant, loving what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. They will maintain a facade of religion, but their lives deny the truth. Keep clear of people like that.
https://x.com/Evangels4Harris/status/1839352177434771622
The Evangelicals for Harris provide a link to the Billy Graham sermon from which they took excerpts for their ad.
Kamala Harris has a “Faith Story.” Again, Christian nationalism may walk in a side door.
https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/kamala-harris-faith-story
Billy Graham’s homophobia.
Them, “Billy Graham Made Queer Lives Hell on Earth.”
The author of this article states discusses how Graham is misrepresented as somehow a moderate and is here to discuss the facts.
Yet I also know that he was responsible for an incalculable amount of psychic and physical damage to the LGBTQ+ community, and that his explicit endorsement of conversion therapy ruined not only my childhood but the lives of hundreds of thousands of others. A few good deeds does not cancel out this harm.
https://www.them.us/story/billy-graham-made-queer-lives-hell-on-earth
This is another article about the white washing of Billy Graham.
Independent, “The outpouring of grief for evangelist Billy Graham is disturbing given his homophobic views.”
The subtitle is, “Far from being ‘an exemplar to generation upon generation’, Graham is an example of how religion is so often successfully leveraged as a means of making bigotry appear somehow acceptable, even something to aspire to.”
Let’s consider for a moment his attitude towards gay people, illustrated rather well by an exchange of letters in 1974. A woman wrote to Graham, asking him about the love she felt for another woman. He began by quoting Paul’s letter to the Corinthians: “Make no mistake: no fornicator or idolator, none who are guilty either of adultery or of homosexual perversion … will possess the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
He added that homosexuality was an “ungodly spirit of self-gratification” and famously went on to say “we traffic in homosexuality at the peril of our spiritual welfare. Your affection for another of your own sex is misdirected and will be judged by God’s holy standards.”
Graham was a firm believer in the power of so-called gay cure therapy, encouraging contact with groups such as the (now-defunct) Exodus International. The BGEA has a whole page dedicated to the idea that being gay is something that can be changed, which ends with a reference to a “practical guide to overcoming homosexuality”.
NBC News, “Billy Graham leaves painful legacy for LGBTQ people.” Feb. 22, 2018.
Over the course of Graham's 99 years of life, he reached millions of Christians around the world and had an outsized impact on the national political landscape. For many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, however, Graham was a crusader against them, one whose efforts shaped the religious right into an anti-LGBTQ political force.
The article tells how Billy Graham was an important figure in the creation of a politicized Evangelical coaltion which would later to after Gays.
“Let me say this loud and clear!” Graham responded to a young woman who wrote to him in 1974 confessing her love for another woman. “We traffic in homosexuality at the peril of our spiritual welfare.” This was after Graham had claimed homosexuality to be a “sinister form of perversion” that was contributing to the decay of civilization, …
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/billy-graham-leaves-painful-legacy-lgbtq-people-n850031
Out In New Jersey, “Billy Graham’s ministry of LGBT intolerance.”
Looking at the arc of Graham’s public ministry, from the 1950s to the present, the publicity of grief has overlooked his damaging and damning messages toward and about LGBT Americans. And the LGBT community has not been silent in this moment of public mourning. For example, Craig Coogan, executive director of the world-renowned Boston Gay Men’s Chorus, wrote the Boston Globe for not mentioning Graham’s decades-long religious vitriol spewed at the LGBT community.
“I was disappointed that the Rev. Billy Graham’s long track record of homophobic and anti-gay statements was not included in an otherwise comprehensive review of his life in last week’s obituary (“Billy Graham, ‘America’s pastor,’ dies at 99,” Page A1, Feb. 22, 2018).”
https://outinjersey.net/billy-grahams-ministry-lgbt-intolerance/
RollingStone, “The Soul-Crushing Legacy of Billy Graham.”
This is behind a paywall.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/the-soul-crushing-legacy-of-billy-graham-200536/
From the Lakeland Ledger, Nov. 20, 1973, Billy Graham’s editorial, “Homosexual Perversion, A Sin That’s Never Right.”
But, let me say this loud and clear! We traffic in homosexuality at the peril of our spiritual welfare. Your affection for another of your own sex is misdirected, and will be judged by God’s holy standards. … But you don’t have to succumb to this insidious temptation. Said Paul in statement 13, “Sexual sin is never right.”
Read on in that chpater. You will discover that the people guilty of such sin were converted — were regenerated by faith in Christ. Such reformation is possible for you. Seize it while there’s still a chance.
For those who might make excuses for the above letter, Billy Graham was still campaigning against LGBT in 2012. He took out full page ads for Admendment One in North Carolina to ban Gay marriage.
This is the article in the Advocate, “Billy Graham Takes Out Full-Page Ad for Amendment One.”
"At 93, I never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage," Graham wrote in an advertisement that will appear in 14 newspapers over the weekend, according to the Associated Press. "The Bible is clear -- God's definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote FOR the marriage amendment on Tuesday, May 8."
Politico, “Billy Graham joins N.C. political battle.” 5/2/2012.
The Rev. Billy Graham urged North Carolina voters Wednesday to support an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage, a move that an observer said was highly unusual but another said was in keeping with the minister’s moral beliefs.
“Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern,” said Graham, 93, who lives near Asheville. “I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected.”
His complete statement about Amendment One will be part of full-page ads slated to appear in 14 North Carolina newspapers throughout the weekend.
https://www.politico.com/story/2012/05/billy-graham-joins-nc-political-battle-075860
Not just in North Carolina. Christianity Today, “Billy Graham Endorses Minnesota Same-Sex Marriage Ban.”
Billy Graham has thrown his hat into the political arena once again, endorsing Minnesota’s proposed constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage. (The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was long headquartered in Minneapolis.)
CT recently examined whether the famed evangelist has suddenly turned political, given debate over a series of public statements by Graham this year (including a current “Vote Biblical Values” national ad campaign and support for presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor Mike Huckabee’s “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day”, and a North Carolina ban on same-sex marriage).
A lot of those links are broken and the Internet Archive is currently down.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2012/11/billy-graham-endorses-minnesota-same-sex-marriage-ban/
https://charismanews.com/news/us/billy-graham-speaks-out-on-gay-marriage-in-minnesota/
Billy Graham Offers His Support to Chick-fil-A.
https://billygraham.org/story/billy-graham-offers-his-support-to-chick-fil-a/
Christianity Today, July 26, 2012, “Billy Graham Supports Chick-fil-A.”
They quote Billy Graham’s statement.
I want to express my support for my good friends Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy, and for their strong stand for the Christian faith. I’ve known their family for many years and have watched them grow Chick-fil-A into one of the best businesses in America while never compromising their values. Chick-fil-A serves each of its customers with excellence, and treats everyone like a neighbor. It’s easy to see why Chick-fil-A has become so popular across America.
Each generation faces different issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by God’s word. I appreciate the Cathy family’s public support for God’s definition of marriage.
I also appreciate [former Arkansas] Governor Mike Huckabee’s leadership and for encouraging Americans to support Chick-fil-A on August 1. As the son of a dairy farmer who milked many a cow, I plan to ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ and show my support by visiting Chick-fil-A next Wednesday. [Boldface added.]
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2012/07/billy-graham-supports-chick-fil-a/
SF Gate, “Billy Graham hit for calling gays sinful,” Sept. 30, 1997.
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/billy-graham-hit-for-calling-gays-sinful-3096691.php
Fox News, May 2, 2012, “Billy Graham backs NC anti-gay marriage amendment.”
https://www.foxnews.com/us/billy-graham-backs-nc-anti-gay-marriage-amendment
Advocate, “What the Obits Aren’t Saying: Evangelist Billy Graham Was a Homophobe.”
The Columbia Chronicle, “Honoring Billy Graham dishonors those he marginalized.”
Despite preaching Christian love and acceptance, Graham was exposed post-Watergate for anti-semitic remarks he made to former President Richard Nixon. In the recorded conversation with Nixon, Graham said, “A lot of the Jews are great friends of mine, they swarm around me and are friendly to me because they know that I’m friendly with Israel. But they don’t know how I really feel about what they are doing to this country.”
When political leaders like Obama show support for a staunchly religious and prejudiced public figure like Graham, it is insulting to their constituents. It demonstrates a passive interest in oppressed groups’ rights, rather than actively standing up for them, and standing against the memorializing of someone who has dehumanized them.
Honoring Graham’s legacy of hate and prejudice is an offense to members of the marginalized groups he spoke against who feel dismissed and disregarded by the honor he is receiving. For the federal government to laud a man who used his platform to be homophobic and anti-semitic is a step entirely in the wrong direction.
https://columbiachronicle.com/864850c8-1e79-11e8-bc73-97e343b5095e
Billy Graham: “My Heart Aches for America,” July 19, 2012.
Some years ago, my wife, Ruth, was reading the draft of a book I was writing. When she finished a section describing the terrible downward spiral of our nation’s moral standards and the idolatry of worshiping false gods such as technology and sex, she startled me by exclaiming, “If God doesn’t punish America, He’ll have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” [Boldface added.]
She was probably thinking of a passage in Ezekiel where God tells why He brought those cities to ruin. “Now this was the sin of … Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen” (Ezekiel 16:49–50, NIV).
https://billygraham.org/story/billy-graham-my-heart-aches-for-america/
WRAL News, “Billy Graham urges Americans to vote for ‘biblical values.’”
Christian evangelist Billy Graham has taken out a full-page advertisement in more than a dozen newspapers in battleground states across the country, urging Americans to vote for biblical values on Election Day.
The ads stated:
"The legacy we leave behind for our children, grandchildren and this great nation is crucial," Graham says in the ad.
He goes on to say: "I believe it is vitally important that we cast our ballots for candidates who base their decisions on biblical principles and support the nation of Israel. I urge you to vote for those who protect the sanctity of life and support the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman. Vote for biblical values this November 6, and pray with me that America will remain one nation under God."
https://www.wral.com/story/billy-graham-urges-americans-to-vote-for-biblical-values-/11679611/
Baptist Press, “‘Vote for biblical values,’ Billy Graham ad says.”
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/vote-for-biblical-values-billy-graham-ad-says/
How liberal Christians undermine Gays.
I have an essay on this topic. I will put a link to it at the end of this post.
Sojourners, Aug. 1, 2012, “Billy Graham is not an Anti-Gay Bigot.”
Let me tell you about Billy Graham, just as he is, because based on what I experienced working for the man for six years, two statements issued under his name last week (and one earlier this year) significantly collide with the well-established values of this great humble faith leader.
Lots and lots of speculations without any evidence to wish away the homophobia of Billy Graham.
https://sojo.net/articles/billy-graham-not-anti-gay-bigot
Billy Graham Foundation homophobia.
Very much they are practicioners of the New Homophobia.
https://billygraham.org/story/responding-to-the-lgbtq-people-in-your-life-5-bible-based-truths/
https://billygraham.org.uk/p/speaking-to-the-lgbt-community-with-grace-and-truth/
https://billygraham.org/answer/are-homosexuals-born-that-way/
https://billygraham.org/story/navigating-lgbtq-with-both-truth-and-grace/
https://www.billygraham.ca/stories/homosexuality-is-sin/
https://billygraham.org.au/pride-month-balancing-truth-and-grace/
Homosxuality & the Church. Episode 1 is introducing her podcast to her potential audience.
This is a directory page for their homophobic articles.
https://billygraham.org/grow-your-faith/topics/health-lifestyle/homosexuality/
https://billygraham.org/grow-your-faith/topics/health-lifestyle/homosexuality/page/2/
The Onion new he was a fool.
“Panicked Billy Graham Realizes He Took Wrong Turn Into Heaven’s Largest Gay Neighborhood.”
https://theonion.com/panicked-billy-graham-realizes-he-took-wrong-turn-into-1823199623/
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