The pastor of a Northern-Ireland church says the community has received violent threats after its screening of a controversial 'gay cure' documentary.
Pastor Rodney Stout of County Down's Ballynahinch Baptist Church said 'extreme violence' had been threatened on social media after the church showed the film Voices of the Silenced: Experts, Evidences and Ideologies on Tuesday night, according to the Belfast Telegraph.
The documentary, created by Christian ministry Core Issues Trust and campaign group Christian Concern, has been accused of promoting a form of gay conversion therapy. In the words of its makers, the film speaks to those who have 'come out of homosexual practices', and challenges the 'myth...that people are born gay'.
A showing of the film at Vue cinema in London's Piccadilly Circus was cancelled following criticism in February, while Queen's Film Theatre, Belfast also cancelled a screening this month. Core Issues Trust protested against the cancellation on Tuesday this week.
The Ballynahinch church screening was accompanied by protesters who opposed the film.
'I went out and welcomed the protesters - I was totally behind their right to be there,' Stout said.
'Some were angry, but several of them agreed that we had the right to screen the film. I asked them if any minority group should have its right to be heard suppressed, and they said no.'
But, he added, threats had been made online in an effort to 'scaremonger' against the event.
'I don't regret allowing the film to be screened in the church, not at all. I don't think anyone should capitulate to threats,' he said. 'I'm not afraid for my safety or that of the people using the church building, I'm more afraid for the disservice it has done to the gay community.'
Sinn Fein MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) Emma Rogan had attended the protest against the film. 'Sinn Fein will continue to stand alongside the LGBT communities,' she said.
'There is nothing wrong with being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and Sinn Fein totally oppose the use of 'therapies' which are aimed to change, repress and/or eliminate a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and, or gender expression.
'These 'therapies' are damaging, extremely dangerous and can have a very damaging psychological effect on people.'
Core Issues Trust director Mike Davidson said the Ballynahinch screening had been a success and that further showings of the film were being planned.
