Updated with response: Stand against the hate of Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ in McMinnville

UPDATE:  Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ called us this morning and talked about his views.  He is not pro-equality, but he wants to make absolutely clear that he does NOT support the stoning of LGBT people.  You can read his response at the link

The New Civil Rights Movement has reported on the teachings of Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ in McMinnville in which the pastor tries to justify the stoning of LGBT people as biblical. 

People of faith and people of no particular faith alike reject the dangerous extremism of Pastor Bailey.  At a time when hate crimes are up against LGBT people in Tennessee and at a time when the nationwide murders of transgender people in particular have reached crisis levels, such hate has no rightful place in religion or in civil society. 

Despite the pastor's notoriety, hate will NOT define McMinnville or the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.  We were in McMinnville recently for the Summer of Love tour with a strong showing of equality advocates.  Read the report if you doubt there are many great people in the area living their hopes for full equality.  Upper Cumberland Pride, which serves the region, is an organization that is growing again and now reunited to TEP.  We know they will continue to raise awareness for the safety and equality of LGBT people in the area.

We urge people of good will across the state and nation to stand with those in McMinnville and the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee and against the hateful rhetoric of Pastor Bailey.  Add your name as a show of solidarity!

Who's endorsing

132 endorsements

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  • Sandy Prigmore Lewis
    endorsed 2015-08-18 15:01:34 -0500
  • Diane Owen
    endorsed 2015-08-18 14:51:26 -0500
    If you are going to attempt this, you better not eat shrimp, shave your beard, wear cotton/poly blend clothes, let women wear pants, or any of the other things outlined in leviticus. Remember, only he who is with out sin may throw the first stone.
  • Jason Hill
    endorsed 2015-08-18 14:41:04 -0500
  • Jenny Ford
    JFGS-Jenny Ford Government Strategies endorsed 2015-08-18 14:19:33 -0500
  • Jamie Crowe
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-08-18 14:10:02 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
  • Jamie Crowe
    @jamieccrowe tweeted link to this page. 2015-08-18 14:09:59 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me! http://tnep.nationbuilder.com/stand_against_the_hate_of_pastor?recruiter_id=43247
  • Jamie Crowe
    endorsed 2015-08-18 14:09:15 -0500
  • Lynn Howard
    endorsed 2015-08-18 13:44:41 -0500
  • Sara Mitchell
    endorsed 2015-08-18 13:10:29 -0500
  • Kim Phillips
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:57:35 -0500
  • Matthew Stafford
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:29:12 -0500
  • Kristopher Robinson
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:27:19 -0500
  • Kimberly Marking
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:20:49 -0500
  • Blair Davis
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:20:33 -0500
  • Eric Patton
    endorsed 2015-08-18 12:03:00 -0500
  • Jami Henry
    endorsed 2015-08-18 11:55:24 -0500
  • James Reynolds
    endorsed 2015-08-18 11:18:19 -0500
  • Hulon Dunn
    endorsed 2015-08-18 11:03:10 -0500
    This kind of message should never be acceptable, no matter what organization or individual it comes from! It is openly calling for violence and murder of a group of people. Using faith as a justification for acts of violence is terrible and amoral
  • Daniel Craig
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:59:10 -0500
  • Alyssa Peterpaul
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:41:47 -0500
  • Roger Blackwell
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-08-18 10:33:13 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
  • Roger Blackwell
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:32:34 -0500
  • Amy Williams
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:13:38 -0500
    The loving and rational citizens of Tennessee (in other words, the MAJORITY) will not stand by and let this man or any other person spew vitriol and incite violence. We strongly condemn these views, and will continue to do so until we are victorious.
  • Stephanie Bertels
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:10:39 -0500
  • Sarah Godwin
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:04:59 -0500
  • Aj Victoria
    endorsed 2015-08-18 10:03:32 -0500
  • Ken Morgan
    endorsed 2015-08-18 09:34:01 -0500
  • Sandra Rowland
    endorsed 2015-08-18 09:26:15 -0500
  • Stephen Henry
    endorsed 2015-08-18 09:23:36 -0500
  • Cynthia Woods
    endorsed 2015-08-18 09:16:04 -0500

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