Jay Bakker, the son of televangelists
Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, supports President Barack
Obama's endorsement of gay marriage.
During an appearance on CNN, Bakker,
the co-founder of Revolution Church in New York City, told anchor Don
Lemon that he was “excited” by the president's new stance on the
issue.
“I was extremely excited about it,”
Bakker said when asked for his reaction. “You know, I'm so happy
about it. I hope we get past the point of state law and we move it
to federal law. But right now I'm just happy that the president
spoke out for civil – you know, what I can see as the continuing of
civil rights.”
Bakker reiterated that he does not
believe being gay is a sin.
“Leviticus, they're going to use
Romans, they're going to use all these verses,” he said in
reference to faith leaders opposed to gay rights, “but the fact is
they are not talking about what me and you understand as being gay
and lesbian, transgender now. People always say, 'Well they talk
about shellfish or things like that as well.' But Leviticus is old
covenant and as far as what we read in the new testament that has
more to do with worshiping other gods or prostitution in ministry.”
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(Related: Jay
Bakker leads rally opposing North Carolina gay marriage ban.)