A LGBTQIA+ activist from Lavender Hill has lodged a formal complaint at the Human Rights Commission against a reverend for referring to homosexuality as “an abomination”.
Clive Jacobs, an activist from the LGBTQIA+ community in Lavender Hill, lodged a complaint after derogatory comments were allegedly made by Rev Oscar Bougardt in the media.
“I went through a popular newspaper and there was a story where the Premier (Alan Winde) on 20 February had lights flash over the castle for pink month and then it was stated, just the next day, by Rev Bougardt that the LGBTQIA+ communities are perverts.
“He regards us as filth and he says that we must stop throwing homosexuality down the children’s throats. He said quite a bit of ugly things.”
Jacobs adds that a line must be drawn.
“He has gone too far, the line has to be drawn because we are a democratic country but he feels the biggest sin on earth is homosexuality and being gay.
“He will always have nothing good to say about the LGBTQIA+ and as an individual with the same lifestyle, my rights and the way I live and whatever I do or wear, it is my constitutional right.
“If I want to get married to another man it has nothing to do with him. I was part of lobbying for gay rights.”
Jacobs adds that as a human rights activist, he would not allow anyone to defame him or anyone else.
“I sent a letter to the Human Rights Commission and they responded. With pride month ending this week and having the pride march, why are we being slandered?
“You go out there thinking that you are free but Rev Bougardt is creating a platform for ignorance and where people can hurt us.
“If Rev Bougardt, as a priest, can say these things gangsters out here are going to say if a man of God condemns you, then anyone can throw a brick at you. He is opening the doors for a lot of negativity.”
Responding to the Human Rights Complaint lodged, Rev Oscar Bougardt tells People’s Post that he has done nothing wrong.
“I quoted what the Bible says, I did nothing wrong. I have the freedom to preach the Bible to my congregation.
“In the scripture homosexuality is an abomination. At school they want kids to choose neutral gender and I have the right to disagree, I never said anything hateful.”
Bougardt further says it feels like a personal attack on him.
“Everyone can talk about the homosexuals, all I said is that I don’t agree to the neutral gender they are trying to do at schools.
“I personally feel that homosexuals are trying to influence the minds of our young children and they expect us to say nothing. I will never agree even if they put me in jail.
“What did I do that is hateful? I have my opinion because we have freedom of speech and freedom of religion.”
