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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| 'Anti-gay' preacher talk in Plymouth council venue 'unacceptable' | 'Anti-gay' preacher talk in Plymouth council venue 'unacceptable' |
| (14 days later) | |
| A gay rights group has criticised a city council for allowing a "homophobic" preacher to speak at one of its venues. | A gay rights group has criticised a city council for allowing a "homophobic" preacher to speak at one of its venues. |
| Andrew Wommack, who has said publicly gay people are "not normal", is due to appear at God TV's Summer Celebration, in Plymouth. | Andrew Wommack, who has said publicly gay people are "not normal", is due to appear at God TV's Summer Celebration, in Plymouth. |
| The city council said it had "received verbal and written assurances" that its equality standards would be upheld. | The city council said it had "received verbal and written assurances" that its equality standards would be upheld. |
| Pride in Plymouth said it was a "real backward step". | Pride in Plymouth said it was a "real backward step". |
| Director of the organisation, Jo Lewis, said: "The council has made a mistake and haven't given it the thought they should have done." | Director of the organisation, Jo Lewis, said: "The council has made a mistake and haven't given it the thought they should have done." |
| She added it was unacceptable to allow Mr Wommack to "publicly preach discrimination towards LGBT people", "in a publicly-funded building". | She added it was unacceptable to allow Mr Wommack to "publicly preach discrimination towards LGBT people", "in a publicly-funded building". |
| Mr Wommack, from Texas, will be carrying out three evening services in the Guildhall. | Mr Wommack, from Texas, will be carrying out three evening services in the Guildhall. |
| Organisers God TV has described the event as "not-to-be-missed empowering teaching". | Organisers God TV has described the event as "not-to-be-missed empowering teaching". |
| On his website, Mr Wommack claims "homosexuality is wrong from a moral and social point of view" and "their lifestyle is not only destructive to themselves but also to society". | On his website, Mr Wommack claims "homosexuality is wrong from a moral and social point of view" and "their lifestyle is not only destructive to themselves but also to society". |
| Plymouth City Council said the organisers "have provided verbal and written assurances that their event will comply fully with our equalities policy, which is one of the booking conditions". | Plymouth City Council said the organisers "have provided verbal and written assurances that their event will comply fully with our equalities policy, which is one of the booking conditions". |
| Plymouth Humanists have also started a social media campaign urging God TV to disown some of Mr Wommack's views. | Plymouth Humanists have also started a social media campaign urging God TV to disown some of Mr Wommack's views. |
| Chairman, Ben Kerr, said Mr Wommack's "attitude to gay people threatens to undermine the good work that is going on in Plymouth to counter homophobic attitudes". | Chairman, Ben Kerr, said Mr Wommack's "attitude to gay people threatens to undermine the good work that is going on in Plymouth to counter homophobic attitudes". |
| God TV said the event's primary message was "love and compassion" and it accepts "the need to exercise freedom of speech responsibly and lawfully". | God TV said the event's primary message was "love and compassion" and it accepts "the need to exercise freedom of speech responsibly and lawfully". |
| Pride in Plymouth said it would not be staging an official protest but expected "the council to take legal action if hate speech was spouted". | Pride in Plymouth said it would not be staging an official protest but expected "the council to take legal action if hate speech was spouted". |