NEWS

Brunswick pastor Kenneth Adkins tweets that homosexuals got 'what they deserve'

David Bauerlein
Kenneth Adkins

A Brunswick, Ga., pastor who helped lead the fight against expanding Jacksonville's anti-discrimination law tweeted after the mass shooting in Orlando that homosexuals got "what they deserve."

Mayor Lenny Curry condemned the comment by Pastor Kenneth Adkins, who served as a panelist on one of the community forums Curry convened in December about adding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to the city's anti-discrimination law.

"We are on the heels of an attack on people, a terrorist attack, with people killed and maimed in our state," Curry said. "Suggesting that people should be victims is appalling."

Adkins said Tuesday the tweet wasn't a reference to the Orlando killings. Instead, he said, it was aimed at Jacksonville residents who sought expansion of the city's anti-discrimination laws.

Adkins' tweet said: "been through so much with these Jacksonville homosexuals that I don't see none of them as victims. I see them as getting what they deserve!!"

That tweet Monday came after a string of other tweets by Adkins about the Orlando shooting.

Three hours before the tweet about getting "what they deserve," Adkins tweeted, "Dear Gays, Go sit down somewhere. I know y'all want some special attention; yall are sinners who need Jesus. This was an attack on America."

Adkins sent an email Tuesday to Curry saying the tweet about getting "what they deserve" did not have anything to do with Orlando.

"My tweet was strictly meant for the Jacksonville group that has made my life a living hell since I served on the panel and opposed the HRO," Adkins wrote, referring to the human rights ordinance.

Adkins wrote that he and his family "are the victims here when you understand what I have had to endure for standing up for the Church during the discussions."

HAZOURI CALLED POSTS 'HATE MONGERING'

Adkins helped organize a group of African-American pastors who opposed changing the anti-discrimination law. He gained prominence in the debate when he was a panelist during the third and final community forum organized by Curry to discuss issues related to extending protection to LGBT people.

At the time of that Dec. 15 forum, City Councilman Tommy Hazouri blasted Adkins' inclusion on the panel, citing Adkins' "hate-mongering" Twitter postings.

Hazouri referred to illustrations Adkins posted on Twitter that compared African-American pastors to slaves being sold on the auction block because the pastors spoke publicly in favor of expanding the law to cover LGBT people.

Adkins also had put up an illustration depicting Hazouri inside a bathroom stall with another man while a third person wearing female attire stands at a nearby urinal and says, "I'm so glad Tommy is on Our Side."

CURRY: ADKINS 'WASN'T MY HANDPICKED GUY'

Curry said Tuesday that his staff worked with groups on both sides of the HRO debate to select the panelists for the community forums. Curry's office said in December that a number of people opposed to expanding the law recommended Adkins.

"He wasn't my handpicked guy," Curry said Tuesday. "I would not choose someone with that kind of language."

After the community forums, Curry announced that he did not favor expanding the city's law. He issued an executive order requiring City Hall and vendors working for the city to comply with Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guideline for LGBT people.

Hazouri subsequently withdrew legislation seeking expansion of the law to cover all Jacksonville residents in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodations. He has said he will reintroduce legislation in the fall.

Adkins continues to fill his Twitter account with comments about LGBT issues. While opposing bathroom policies geared toward transgender students, Adkins has posted photo illustrations of Duval School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti in women's clothing and high heels.

Dear Gays, Go sit down somewhere. I know y'all want some special attention; yall are Sinners who need Jesus. This was an attack on America.

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

been through so much with these Jacksonville Homosexuals that I don't see none of them as victims. I see them as getting what they deserve!!

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

The Orlando Massacre was done by a Muslim on Americans. Plain and Simple. Christians did not cause this!

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

Homosexuals, dont use the Muslim terrorist action in Orlando as an opportunity to beat down Christians or the Church. We are all Americans.

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

You all can tag anybody you want, it still does not change the fact that Christians DID NOT KILL THE AMERICANS IN ORLANDO. A MUSLIM DID!

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

It is a shame that Jax Gays are trying to use the Orlando Massacre as Blackmail to force the City to pass The HRO! Shame, Shame, Shame!

— Bishop Ken Adkins (@Pastorkenadkins) June 14, 2016

David Bauerlein: (904) 359-4581