Donald Trump to make secret appearance at anti-LGBT Christian event on Orlando anniversary
Donald Trump is set to attend an anti-LGBT Christian event behind closed doors on the anniversary of the Orlando massacre – where preachers will ask him to set out plans to fight “homosexual totalitarianism”
The Republican Presidential hopeful is expected to make a private appearance at the ‘Rediscovering God in America’ Renewal Project event on Thursday, on the two month anniversary of the Orlando massacre.
Mr Trump is set to make a behind-closed-doors appearance at the event to meet with faith group leaders. However, many of those attending the event run groups that are actively homophobic.
America Renewal Project founder David Lane told Bloomberg News he would ask Trump on how he plans to fight “homosexual totalitarianism” and gay rights “militants.”
He said he would contend: “What about the religious liberty of Christian photographers, Christian bakers, Christian retreat centers, and pastors who believe same-sex intercourse and marriage is sin?
“These Christians were simply living out their deeply held convictions of their Christian faith when they politely refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding. Doesn’t the First Amendment give us all a right to our beliefs?”
“Homosexual totalitarianism is out of the closet, the militants are trying herd Christians there.”
Kim Davis’ lawyer Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel is also set to speak at the event
An investigation recently found that Staver, who rose to fame with the hard right alongside Davis, has secretly been helping Republican lawmakers draft anti-LGBT legislation in at least 20 states, leading to a wave of anti-LGBT ‘conscience’ bills and ‘bathroom bills’.
Despite being embraced by Republicans across the country, Staver’s own personal views about gay people are shockingly extreme. He recently directly equated LGBT rights activists and paedophiles.
He said: “We’ve opened the door for every rapist and paedophile. Frankly, when you look at some of the people behind the North Carolina [LGBT anti-discrimination] law and some of these other laws, who are they?
“They have been identified, some of them that have been advocating this, as paedophiles. Some of this is being financed by those who are actively promoting paedophilia.”
Staver has also previously claimed children will soon be forced into same-sex relationships, while his wife, Liberty Counsel’s president, says she brings a handgun to the toilets to scare off trans women.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio will also appear at the event.
JoDee Winterhof of the Human Rights Campaign said: “Just when you think Donald Trump and Marco Rubio couldn’t go any lower, they announce plans to court anti-LGBTQ activists in Orlando.
“On Thursday, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio are going to seek votes from people who fundamentally believe we are not equal, who support dangerous and harmful conversion therapy and who have worked to export anti-LGBTQ hate abroad.
“Donald Trump would put at risk all the progress the LGBTQ community has made over the last eight years. And we know all too well that Marco Rubio — who has refused to stand up for LGBTQ Floridians time and again — would be his loyal accomplice. Because of elected officials like Marco Rubio, LGBTQ Floridians remain at risk of being fired or denied a job because of who they are or whom they love.”
