Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the
influential First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, has warned that
gay marriage will lead to a government crackdown of Christian radio
stations.
Appearing on American Family
Association's (AFA) Today's Issues radio program, Jeffress
noted the inevitability of marriage equality once it reaches the U.S.
Supreme Court.
“If that's the case, then I think you
can rightly assume that any speech that is against that [will be
prohibited]. For example, on the radio. What about stations who
have licenses that are granted by the FCC? Can the FCC support
stations that engage in hate speech or intolerance or that
discriminate against the constitutional rights of others?” Jeffress
rhetorically asked.
“I think that could very well be the
basis for denying licenses to Christian stations around the country
that want to broadcast the truth,” he added.
Writing
at Right Wing Watch, Kyle Mantyla agreed with an eye roll: “Yes,
this is probably exactly what will happen, just as the government
systematically shut down Christian radio stations for opposing
abortion after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the right to
choose back in 1973, which is why we never hear the Religious Right
talk about this issue these days.”
Also it should be noted Jeffress'
incorrect assumption that all Christians oppose LGBT rights.
Last year, Jeffress compared gay
sex to plugging a 120-volt television into a 220-volt outlet.