Hate preacher Franklin Graham begins legal proceedings for ‘religious discrimination’ against Glasgow venue
Anti-LGBT hate preacher Franklin Graham. (Justin Sullivan/Getty)
Christian hate preacher Franklin Graham has said that he has started legal proceedings for ‘religious discrimination’ against the Glasgow venue that cancelled him.
The preacher, who has praised Vladimir Putin’s anti-gay laws, blamed gay people for a “moral 9/11” and declared that gay people are “the enemy” of civilisation, was set to go on an eight-stop tour of the UK during Pride month.
But the tour was soon left in tatters after every single venue cancelled his appearances after campaigns to have him banned for his opposition to LGBT+ rights.
Graham originally threatened legal action against the former venue of his Glasgow tour date, the SEC Hydro, in January.
He said at the time that there was “no question” that the council and venue bosses were “discriminating against Christians”, and the cancellation was “unfortunate because it’s based on heresy and false accusations by just a very small group of people”.
Graham also hit out at protesters in Glashow who had campaigned against the event. “The other side talk about how tolerant they are and how inclusive they are, but they are the least tolerant, the least inclusive people in the UK,” he said.
According to the Glasgow Times, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), of which Franklin Graham is CEO and president, has started legal proceedings against SEC Hydro.
The BGEA has reportedly asked Glasgow Sheriff Court to grant an interim order forcing the venue to hold the event, and SEC Hydro has until February 27 to defend its cancellation of the event to the court.
When asked about the legal challenge, a spokesperson for the SEC Hydro told the Glasgow Times that the venue stood by its original statement on Graham’s cancellation.
They said: “The booking for this event was processed in the same way we would for any religious concert of this nature and as a business we remain impartial to the individual beliefs of both our clients and visitors.
“However, we are aware of the recent adverse publicity surrounding this tour and have reviewed this with our partners and stakeholders. Following a request from our principal shareholder the matter has been considered and a decision made that we should not host this event.”
