Fined For What?

It's utterly disgusting that an evangelical preacher is fined $1600 for preaching what he believes is the truth about homosexuals on the streets of Glasgow:

Shawn Holes, a US Baptist street preacher from New York State, was fined £1,000 (over $US1,500) for telling passers-by in Glasgow city centre: "Homosexuals are deserving of the wrath of God - and so are all other sinners - and they are going to a place called hell." Mr Holes, aged 47, was on a tour of the UK when he was arrested while preaching in Glasgow's main street.  In court in Glasgow, he admitted breaching the peace on 18 March by "uttering homophobic remarks" that were "aggravated by religious prejudice".

It's enough to make you give Maggie Gallagher a hug. The preacher doesn't even single out homosexuals; every other sinner is going to hell as well. But please note that the leading campaigner of gay rights in Britain, Peter Tatchell, is as appalled by this as I am. I think more gay men and women need to start speaking out more vociferously in defense of religious freedom - especially when it offends and demonizes gays. This is not about them; it's about us: our respect for freedom of speech and conscience.

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