Televangelist Pat Robertson believes
gay men and lesbians can change their sexual orientation just like
murderers, rapists and thieves can stop committing crimes.
Robertson made his remarks in reaction
to a 700 Club news segment on Ecuador politician Nelson
Zavala, who was banned from participating in politics for a year
after he was found guilty of violating the nation's electoral code
which prohibits candidates from making discriminatory remarks.
Zavala, an evangelical preacher and former presidential candidate,
peppered his political speeches with anti-gay rhetoric.
“For somebody to say that a
homosexual can change, that somehow is a hate crime? It is a hate
crime? To say somebody can change their sexual preference, that
that's a hate crime?” Robertson
told his viewers. “That man's freedom of speech is being taken
away.”
“[T]he power of God can change
people's orientation. A murderer can change. A rapist can change.
A thief can change. That's what the gospel is all about. It's not a
hate crime.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)