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LGBTI community worries about violence following pastors’ sermons

A Nigerian pastor named Enoch Adeboye who claims “gay marriage will lead to the end of the human race” is touring the Pacific region next month and will be visiting New Zealand on November 14-15.

Adeboye will be coming to New Zealand with a deeply antigay message and will be visiting other countries such as Australia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

Pastor Adeboye is one of the pastors who openly used their sermons and preaching to rally public support for the anti-same sex marriage bill which was recently passed by lawmakers in Nigeria. Following these sermons and sermons like these by other homophobic clerics there has been a trend of growing violence to the LGBTI community.

Rawa Karetai, Chairperson of Rainbow Wellington said that “Given Adeboye’s history and his extremist anti-gay preaching, he can certainly be expected to vilify a segment of the New Zealand community, or incite discord and represent a danger to the New Zealand LGBTI community”.

And that, “We are concerned that the visit of Pastor Adeboye, will have a similar impact of increased violence towards LGBTI here in New Zealand.”

“We believe that many African churches are trying to re–evangelise the world by promoting literal biblical interpretations and religious messages that are incompatible with universal human rights and other civilized values”. Karetai said.

We are also surprised the NZ Government, which has blocked the entry of Mike Tyson into the country because of his track record on violence, can nevertheless allow such a man entry, who is basically threatening violence against the whole LGBTI community come to New Zealand.” Karetai said.

Pastor Adeboye from the Redeemed Christian Church is coming to help increase the prescience of the church here in New Zealand and will be working alongside The City Impact Church at an Auckland gathering; Let the Wind Blow.

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