COC Nederland, an LGBTI organization wants to stop anti – LGBT+ American pastor Steven Anderson from visiting Amsterdam on May 23rd. The organization is urging minister Mark Harbers to follow through with the ban.
COC calls Anderson a “hate preacher” who perpetuates a transphobic and homophobic narrative. “He calls for hatred. He wants governments to kill LGBT people and LGBT people to shoot a bullet through their heads,” said Philip Tijsma of COC in the NOS Radio 1 Journal.
Anderson is known for his bigoted comments against the LGBT+ community and using social media to spread hate speech. He believes all gays should be executed in order to cure AIDS. In regards to the 2016 Orlando shooting in a gay bar, Anderson said this was “good news” since “there are fifty less pedophiles in the world”. He is also a holocaust denier, anti-abortion, anti-contraception and wanted Obama killed.
COC wants minister Harbers to make Anderson a “persona non grata”, prohibiting him from entering the country. The request has also been raised in parliament.
Haatpredikers komen in alle vormen voor. Deze gevaarlijke ‘prediker’ vindt oa dat homo’s moeten branden en dat de bloedige aanslag op een homobar in Orlando ‘goed nieuws’ was. Hij heeft wat ons betreft niets te zoeken in Nederland. Kamervragen https://t.co/7yunqsjDfW
— Dilan Yesilgoz (@DilanYesilgoz) April 24, 2019
Anderson will also be giving sermons in Ireland and Sweden throughout the month. In Ireland, a petition requesting he be banned has almost 10,000 signatures. Anderson has also already been officially banned from the UK, South Africa, Botswana, and Jamaica.
For those who argue Anderson has the right to “freedom of speech”, we would like to remind you that hate speech is illegal in the Netherlands. Allowing Anderson to visit Amsterdam to “win souls” is not in line with the capital’s values of inclusivity, acceptance, and love. Banning anti – LGBT+ preacher Steven Anderson from visiting Amsterdam is the only option (yeah, we’re not neutral in this one)
What are your thoughts? Let us know, in the comments!
I.m a very serious Christian(*dutch living in Australia)and I.m sure that Jesus loves guy people much more than this preacher who is an embarrasment for 99.9% of the Christians and is only sending people away from Gods love for everybody! aart kooiman Warwick qld Australia
Forgot to write:, this guy should not be allowed to go to Holland ,shouldn,t be allowed to speak in any public place! He is only damaging the view some people have on christians!