For much of the last half of the 20th century and into the beginning of the 21st, televangelist Pat Robertson has never made any secret about his feelings towards the LGBTQ community. Via his so-called Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the platform of his daily television series “The 700 Club,” he has verbally attacked gays, lesbians, transgender individuals and anyone who fell outside the realm of heterosexual and cisgender.
Production of “The 700 Club” began in 1966. Finally, after more than 55 long years on the air, Robertson, now 91, announced October 1 that he would be stepping down. Robertson’s son will take his place as a host of the program and continue to operate as the chief executive at the CBN.
Over the years, Robertson often joined efforts with fellow televangelist Jerry Falwell (died in 2007 at the age of 73) when attacking the LGBTQ community. Within a matter of days following 9/11, in what became an historic moment in television history, Robertson and Falwell went live on the cable network and attempted to lay blame for what had occurred on the LGBTQ community and other groups he and Falwell opposed.
“God will not be mocked,” said Falwell. “I really believe the … gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU [and] People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point [my] finger in their face and say you helped this happen.”
While Robertson genuinely looked shocked at Falwell’s assertions, he said nothing in response and did not attempt to refute what Falwell had said.
Robertson’s diatribes against the LGBTQ community didn’t stop there. Here’s a partial list from GLAAD of some of the nonsense the one-time presidential candidate tossed out at the LGBTQ community:
- After the shootings at the Orlando gay nightclub Pulse, Robertson said, “the best thing to do is to sit on the sidelines and let [LGBTQ rights advocates and Muslims] kill themselves.”
- In response to marriage equality: “I warned about this years and years ago that it was going to happen and it did, it has. What’s next? What’s next is what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah. It is just a question of how soon the wrath of God is going to come on this land.”
- About gays and lesbians: “You know, those who are homosexual will die out because they don’t reproduce. You know, you have to have heterosexual sex to reproduce.”
- He claimed HIV-positive gay people in San Francisco and other cities used special rings to cut and transmit the HIV Virus to others.
- In response to feminism, Robertson claimed: “Feminism is a socialist, anti-family, political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.”
At 91, it’s unlikely Robertson will be making any further television appearances, although both he and his son claim Robertson will return for special productions in future efforts. In a particularly odd statement, Robertson has reportedly claimed that he intends to live another 30 years. If he makes that prediction, that means we’re stuck with him until he turns 121 in the year 2051!
Join us: This story is made possible with the help of qnotes’ contributors. If you’d like to show your support so qnotes can provide more news, features and opinion pieces like this, give a regular or one-time donation today.
recent stories
SPONSORED: Carolina LGBT Chamber to unveil new 628 Foundation
The Carolina LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its latest venture, the 628 Foundation. The official unveiling of the foundation will take place at the chamber’s annual gala on December 12. The 628 Foundation, a charitable arm of the Carolina LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, will help folks through two different avenues: “The foundation …
This is possibly the only thing Pat Robertson has ever done to make the world a better place.