The Advocate and Out,
America's two leading LGBT print publications, on Wednesday promoted
a fake story which claims that Pope Francis supports gay marriage.
Out included the story in a news
roundup titled The
Pope Supports Same-Sex Marriage? and the Advocate
pointed to Out's roundup from its front page.
The story originated from The
Daily Currant, which describes itself as an “English
language online satirical newspaper.”
Pope Francis is quoted in the story as
telling the Lithuanian newspaper Rausva Plunksna (Pink
Feather): “We have learned much about homosexuality in recent
years. We now know that being gay isn't a choice, but something one
is born with. If our Lord decides that someone should come into this
world a certain way, who are we to judge his choice?”
The story goes on to quote Francis
calling anti-gay activists “bigots.”
“The Bible mentions not eating
shellfish more than it mentions homosexuality. And yet many anti-gay
activists – including some Catholics – are running around eating
shrimp and telling others what to do with their lives. I view these
people as bigoted and ungodly and I will confront them during my time
as pontiff. Who are we to tell anyone who to love?”
Out added: “Way to go Pope
Francis.”
Out and The Advocate are
owned by Here Media.
UPDATE: Out
has withdrawn its article, stating that the story was a “sham.”
“Sorry world,” Out wrote.