A North Carolina pastor is calling for a judicial candidate who is gay to quit a Court of Appeals race, claiming he is a “flaming homosexual” who is “biased” in favor of marriage equality.
In a press conference that was shocking not only for its content but for its venue and its organizers, Pastor Johnny Hunter yesterday labeled former judge John Arrowood a “flaming homosexual,” and called for the Charlotte, North Carolina attorney to quit the race.
“I understand there’s a judge out there that’s a flaming homosexual who’s going to be running,” Pastor Hunter said. He was surrounded by the Republican House Majority Leader Paul Stam, and former Virginia Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, Bishop E.W. Jackson. The press conference was held inside the North Carolina General Assembly.
“I hope he just steps out of the race, because he is already stepping in with bias, and we know why he is running,” Hunter announced. “I’m saying he worked with [Equality North Carolina], fought against the marriage thing, bravely let everybody know, yes, he’s a homosexual, and now he is running for one of the judgeships. I say he should step down because he’s already biased.”
Arrowood is running for a seat on the North Carolina Court of Appeals, and has done work with a statewide LGBT organization, Equality North Carolina. He had previously served on the Court after being appointed to fill an opening, making him the first gay attorney to serve on the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
In perhaps an even greater attack, Pastor Hunter compared Arrowood to a Klansman.
“Why would I put a Klansman in charge of civil rights?,” Hunter queried. “Why would I put a person who fought with an organization against the marriage amendment as a judge who will be deciding cases that has an affect on it?”
WNCN News reports “Hunter’s comments came at a news conference held by Stam and ministers on what they felt were emerging threats to religious liberty. With early voting underway, they said they wanted to protect Christians from ‘growing hostility, discrimination and anti-Christian bigotry.'”
The pastors said the country is headed in the wrong direction. They covered topics such as abortion, same sex marriage and more and they hope that this year’s elections can bring change.
“This is an assault on our rights to preach the Bible as we believe it and practice religion as we always have in this county,†said Dr. Patrick Wooden, of Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh.
In 2012, Pastor Wooden infamously claimed that gay men “have to wear a diaper or a butt plug just to be able to contain their bowels†because of “what happens to the male anus.†He also has said that homosexuality would “most certainly mean the extinction of the human race.â€
Arrowood, who is 57 and has a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, spoke with WNCN to defend his reputation and record.
“I just think it’s outrageous — in today’s world — that you would say someone’s sexual orientation disqualifies them from serving as a judge,” Arrowood told WNCN in a telephone interview.
Arrowood said he had a record as a judge that showed him to be “fair, unbiased and without any agenda.”
He also said any questions about his faith were “particularly unworthy, given my personal faith.”
Matt Comer at Q Notes reports majority Leader Stam’s press conference “was held in response to legalized same-sex marriage in North Carolina. He and the pastors want new legislation protecting those who seek to use their so-called religious beliefs as justification for discriminating against same-sex couples and LGBT individuals in marriage, employment, housing and other areas.”
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Image: Screenshot via WNCN
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Related At The New Civil Rights Movement:
Watch: Homosexuality Is ‘Abomination In The Sight Of God’ Says GOP Lt. Gov. Nominee Jackson
On Our Radar – North Carolina’s Paul Stam And Amendment One
North Carolina Magistrates Are Quitting Rather Than Marry Loving Same-Sex Couples
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