Rev. Jerry Falwell - On Homosexuality

A note from the editors:

We acknowledge that the inclusion of the former Rev.  Jerry Falwell in this online discussion has the possibility of being controversial.  However, as Rev. Falwell was very active and vocal on his stance towards homosexuality and what he deemed the "Homosexual Agenda," we found it important to include him and his words as they were, not as we would have them.

Quick Facts:

Rev. Jerry Falwell was the founding pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, VA in 1956, as well as the founder and chancellor of Liberty University in 1971, and the founder of the Moral Majority in 1979.  Rev. Falwell was outspoken on many issues including pornography, abortion, and homosexuality.

Falwell drew much criticism for his statements in sermons and his newsletters, even going as far as saying, "AIDS is not just God's punishment for homosexuals; it is God's punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals."  Falwell also accused the British children's program Teletubbies for marketing their character, Tinky Winky, as a gay role model. 

Falwell also was deeply involved with the issue on the political front, as is demonstrated in the official memo below sent by Rev. Falwell to the subscribers of his newsletter.

FALWELL CONFIDENTIAL

DATE: June 26, 2003

FROM: Jerry Falwell

TEXAS SODOMY LAW OVERTURNED - A TRAGEDY FOR AMERICA

In a stunning reversal from its 1986 decision upholding the rights of states to enact anti-sodomy laws, the Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote, ruled to overturn a Texas law that banned same-sex sodomy, saying that it violated a right to privacy.

Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the opinion for the majority, citing a "right to privacy" in his decision. Joining him in the decision were Justices John Paul Stevens, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor agreed with the ruling, but differed in the rationale for her decision. (Sadly, four of the six Justices voting for the majority ... O'Connor, Souter, Kennedy and Stevens ... were appointed by Republican presidents.)

Dissenting were Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Justice Scalia, who chose to read his dissent aloud from the bench, said that the Court "has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda."

"The court has taken sides in the culture war," Scalia said. He further noted that this ruling would invite laws allowing same-sex marriage.

"This reasoning leaves on shaky, pretty shaky grounds, state laws limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples," Scalia wrote.

Mathew Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel called the decision a "wakeup call" to the majority of Americans who believe in traditional marriage.

"The goal of the radical homosexual agenda is to eliminate any and all laws regulating consensual sexual conduct," Staver said. "This would mean the elimination of laws banning polygamy as well as those that ban sex between adults and minors."

As recently as 1960, every state had an anti-sodomy law on the books. Today 13 states, including Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Virginia have laws prohibiting sodomy.