UK move to bar SA preacher Angus Buchan

UK lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations want SA preacher Angus Buchan barred from preaching at events there. File picture: Jennifer Bruce

UK lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations want SA preacher Angus Buchan barred from preaching at events there. File picture: Jennifer Bruce

Published Aug 19, 2016

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Durban - British lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisations want KwaZulu-Natal preacher Angus Buchan barred from preaching at events in the UK.

They are unhappy with some of his alleged homophobic and misogynistic comments in the past.

According to his website, Buchan’s events in the UK are meant to begin in England on Sunday and include visits to Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

His stay will conclude with a Mighty Men conference in North Yorkshire between August 26 and 28.

Approached for comment about the controversy on Thursday, a representative of his church, Shalom Ministries, said Buchan was unavailable as he was filming his Grassroots production programmes.

The representative said he would be available on Friday.

Buchan also did not respond to a request for comment via SMS.

Scottish Borders LGBT Equality Organisation raised its concerns about Buchan’s alleged homophobic and misogynistic views with the owners of the Volunteer Hall in Galashiels, in Scotland, where he was scheduled to speak on August 22.

Susan Hart, chairwoman of the Scottish Borders LGBT Equality organisation, told Scottish online publication KaleidoScot that the organisation was pleased Buchan had been blocked from the venue.

“Our organisation encourages diversity, and acceptance. Spreading messages of hate towards LGBTI people, women and children can harm rural communities.”

The organisation told The Mercury in a Facebook message on Thursday that Live Borders, which is responsible for booking events at Volunteer Hall, had refused permission for Buchan to appear at any of its venues.

The organisation said it had not received confirmation whether the event would be held elsewhere or cancelled.

Buchan has not published any notice on his website, Facebook or Twitter accounts to state that the event has been cancelled or moved.

Republic of Ireland nationals have also started an online petition to prevent Buchan from speaking at an event in Kilkenny on August 24. On Thursday night, 762 people had signed it.

Melanie Nathan, executive director of The African Human Rights Coalition, was quoted on KaleidoScot as saying Buchan should be prevented from entering the UK.

On social media, there has been mixed reaction with some people posting messages of support on Buchan’s Facebook page and others questioning his alleged beliefs.

Buchan’s beliefs on homosexuality and women’s roles have been widely documented over the past few years.

In a 2008 story on IOL, Buchan is quoted as saying: “I cannot ever agree that homosexuality is right. I love them though, but they need help. We have prayed for them and God has changed their hearts.” [Read full story]

He has allegedly claimed that prayer can lead homosexual people to change their beliefs.

He has also been accused of being a misogynist for his views that the man is the “prophet, priest and king” in the home.

“The Bible is very clear about the role of the husband. If the husband who is the father does his rightful duty in the home, it is very easy for his wife to submit to him. Wives submit to their husbands because they want to,” he says on one YouTube video.

  The Mercury

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