Phil Robertson, of the A&E hit reality series Duck Dynasty, has angered the gay rights group GLAAD with comments he made about homosexuals in the January issue of GQ.
“We’re Bible-thumpers who just happened to end up on television,” Robertson told reporter Drew Magary in an article titled “What the Duck?” published online Wednesday. “You put in your article that the Robertson family really believes strongly that if the human race loved each other and they loved God, we would just be better off. We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
Robertson went on to explain that America, founded upon Christian values, has declined since Christian symbolism has been removed from public spaces.
When asked what is sinful, the 67-year-old Robertson family patriarch answered, “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there—bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men.”
Paraphrasing 1 Corinthians, he said, “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz says Robertson’s comments should cause A&E to re-examine its ties with Duck Dynasty, which has been hugely successful for the network. The show follows the Robertson’s family lucrative Duck Commander duck call business in West Monroe, La.
“Phil and his family claim to be Christian, but Phil’s lies about an entire community fly in the face of what true Christians believe,” Cruz told E! News in a statement. “He clearly knows nothing about gay people or the majority of Louisianans—and Americans—who support legal recognition for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples.”
He continued, “Phil’s decision to push vile and extreme stereotypes is a stain on A&E and his sponsors who now need to reexamine their ties to someone with such public disdain for LGBT people and families.”
E! News reports that GLAAD has reached out to A&E regarding Phil Robertson’s comments.
Robertson responded in a statement Wednesday: “I myself am a product of the ’60s; I centered my life around sex, drugs and rock and roll until I hit rock bottom and accepted Jesus as my Savior. My mission today is to go forth and tell people about why I follow Christ and also what the Bible teaches, and part of that teaching is that women and men are meant to be together.”
“However,” he adds, “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty, and like Him, I love all of humanity. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.”
Louisiana passed a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. But according to a public policy poll released in August, “56 percent of its residents support some sort of legal recognition, marriage or civil unions for gay and lesbian couples,” reports E! News.
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