Advert a malicious attack on Christians

THE new advertisement produced by the Gay Police Association in the UK is nasty and degrading.

The advertisement shows a large copy of the bible beside a smaller pool of blood, and claims: “In the last 12 months, the Gay Police Association has recorded a 74% increase in homophobic incidents, where the sole or primary motivating factor was the religious belief of the perpetrator”.

The advertisement is also extremely hostile to fathers as its main headline reads “In the name of the father”.

These wild accusations against Christians are simply not true.

The Gay Police Association also claims their helpline received upwards of 250 calls concerning homophobic incidents in the 12 months prior to last March.

Equating reported incidents with actual crime sets a very dangerous precedent, as everyone should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Gay Police Association seems to believe you are automatically guilty if reported to them, especially if you’re a Christian.

The Advertising Standards Authority in the UK, which has been inundated with complaints about the advert, said there was no evidence of a 74% rise in homophobic incidents due to religious belief.

The advertisement clearly implies that all these reported incidents involved physical violence, resulting in pools of blood. This is most certainly not the case.

One of these so-called homophobic incidents led to police warning British writer Lynnette Burrows for simply raising some legitimate concerns about gay adoption on BBC Radio.

What is referred to in democratic societies as free speech, the Gay Police Association regards as homophobia.

I do not believe this advertisement in any way represents the views of the majority of the gay community.

A great many gay and heterosexual people will be disgusted by this outrageous, unfounded and malicious attack on Christianity and on fathers.

Patrick McGinnity

Derrynoose

Keady

Co Armagh