ICC under fire over event with evangelist
THE partly Welsh-Governmentfunded ICC Wales convention centre has come under fire over a planned event featuring a controversial US evangelist.
Franklin Graham, the eldest son of American preacher Billy Graham, has spoken widely of his view that homosexuality is a “sin” and is booked to speak at the International Convention Centre Wales, Newport, in June.
Several venues on Graham’s eight-date tour of the UK have already cancelled bookings following pressure from LGBTQ+ groups and local politicians.
Sheffield City Trust announced on Wednesday that it had cancelled a booking at Sheffield Arena after ACC Liverpool had already cancelled an event saying Graham’s views were incompatible with its values.
According to Franklin Graham’s website, his free event is due to come to ICC Wales on June 14, where “the truth of Jesus Christ will be preached amongst a nation searching for answers”.
Franklin Graham has previously labelled homosexuality and gay marriage “a sin”.
In April 2019, tweeting about Christian
US politician Pete Buttigieg, Graham said: “I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as a sin, something to be repentant of ”.
In a 2014 interview, he compared same-sex adoption to “recruitment” and in 2016, while discussing LGBT+ influence on education, claimed the US was experiencing a “moral implosion” which he compared to the Twin Towers falling on 9/11.
Yesterday, ICC Wales said the event is still confirmed with their venue “at the moment” after an assembly member and the leader of Newport City Council criticised the event on Twitter.
Jayne Bryant, AM for Newport West, said she will be taking up the issue with ICC Wales.
She said: “We should not be welcoming people like Franklin Graham to Newport. He has a long record of preaching hate, prejudice and intolerance. I’d urge the ICC to follow other venues across the UK and cancel his appearance.”
We have contacted ICC Wales for comment.