Amy Grant announcing that she was planning a same-sex wedding for her niece has upset conservative pastor Franklin Graham.
The contemporary Christian singer-songwriter, 62, shared the family news in an interview with the Washington Post last month, before she received the Kennedy Center Honors. The article noted how, in recent years, the “Breath of Heaven” singer has voiced her support for the LGBTQ community, through which she has a large fanbase. Additionally, she and her country music star husband, Vince Gill, plan to host their niece’s wedding at their family farm. Grant said it was her family’s “first nuptials”.
Grant told the outlet that her reaction to her niece’s exit was that it was “a gift” for the family. “Honestly, from a religious perspective, I always say, ‘Jesus, you’ve boiled it down to two things: loving God and loving yourself,'” she said. “I mean, hey – it’s pretty simple.”
Graham – the outspoken leader of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, founded by his late father – has publicly criticized the six-time Grammy winner over the news. He wrote on social media: “God defines sin [in the bible], not us; and His Word is clear that homosexuality is a sin.
Graham is known to be against same-sex marriage, likening it to “polygamy or incest.” He also opposed a bill banning anti-gay conversion therapy in 2017, calling homosexuality an “abomination”.
While the post was on Graham’s social media pages, the “Baby, Baby” singer received plenty of support in the comments. Some included, “Thank you Amy, for your courage and love for all of God’s people – I know it comes at a price,” one person wrote. Another called Grant “a wonderful example of Christian witness for decades. So many of his songs have helped me through tough times. I’m so sorry that all you can do is judge and condemn. You mislead the whole Gospel. Very sad.” Another wrote“Oh, you did NOT just sue Amy Grant! How dare you criticize someone for showing love? She is an amazing woman who has shown more grace and charity than you you’ve never done it. You can’t judge her or anyone else.” I believe that is perfectly clear in your Bible.
A representative for Grant did not respond to Yahoo’s request for comment on Franklin’s criticism.
The Kennedy Center Honors will air on December 1. 28 at 8 p.m. on CBS. Singer Brandi Carlile, who helped honor Grant at the event, said entertainment tonight About Grant’s support for her over the years, especially after she came out in 2002.
Grant’s music “was a very important part of my childhood. I have always seen and known Amy as a faith singer, as a Christian singer in particular,” said six-time Grammy winner Carlile. Coming out of the closet, Amy was one of the first people to reach out to me, to invite me to her TV show in my early twenties. And then just recently, you know, on social media, she’s been really supportive of me and other gay artists in particular. I know she takes a little heat for that. I know it hasn’t been easy, and I admire him so much for it. Carlile added that what Grant has done for her “personally and publicly, as a queer person, [has] been really big and important in my growth.”
Grant attended the event with Gill, marking her first red carpet appearance since suffering a head injury in a cycling accident this summer. In July, she hit a pothole while riding her bike in Nashville and was thrown off the bike. Grant, who was wearing a helmet, suffered cuts and bruises as well as a concussion after being knocked unconscious for about 10 minutes. She was briefly hospitalized.
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