“Homosexuality is an abomination, biblically,” ACDP councillor Lance Grootboom, a Nelson Mandela Bay coalition partner, said in response to the massive Pride flag flying at the Donkin Reserve last week.
Grootboom said the ACDP was built on biblical values and believed being gay was a choice.
“Our principles, our values come from the Bible and that is what we believe in and it’s what we stand for,” he said.
“If God says it’s an abomination, he knows why he said it was an abomination and why it is harmful.”
Last Wednesday, the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality released a statement in support of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community during the month of Pride and is flying one of the biggest Pride flags, directly below the South African flag, on Donkin Hill in Port Elizabeth.
The municipality said in the statement: “Nelson Mandela Bay officially adds its voice to government’s committing to recognising the LGBTQ community, and, most importantly, to upholding the rights of the LGBTQ community.
“The city government’s brand promise of One City, One Future speaks of inclusivity – of all communities of the metro forming integral and important parts of the whole.”
Grootboom said the statement was not a true reflection of how the entire city felt because, as members of the coalition government, the ACDP had not been consulted prior to the statement being issued as it was contrary to his party’s conservative policies.“The ACDP does not discriminate against members of the LGBTIQ community – we service people of this community – but we can’t say we agree fully with this statement,” Grootboom said.
“We love all people, we pray for all people, but we disagree on certain behaviours.
“Homosexuality is a choice – like changing your sex if you want to be male or female, that is a choice you make.
“If you want to change from a man to a woman, that’s your constitutional right, but you cannot expect me to condone that behaviour when it goes against my moral beliefs.”
Asked if the ACDP had members from the LGBTIQ community, Grootboom said he did not think so.
“You can become a member [of the party], we don’t prohibit people from becoming members – but if you want to become part of the leadership, you have to be an example because ours is a biblical policy,” he said.
“We are fighting for the family unit.
“The Bible speaks of a man and a woman getting married. A man and a woman can procreate and create a family.
“Male and male – you need to ask God, can they now make a family? What is natural? Can a man and a man make a kid? Can a man carry a child?”
Grootboom said the ACDP loved and respected everyone and was not discriminating against anyone.
LGBTIQ activist David Hessey said: “It’s sad because these people, without even knowing, some of their best friends could be gay because not everyone is out of the closet.
“It’s sad to think how they could treat their children should they one day come out as gay.”
Hessey said the Bible did not say homosexuality was an abomination, but people chose to read extracts that reflected who they were.
“These people are not Christians but haters,” he said.
Bay mayor Athol Trollip said all coalition governments were made up of parties with different values and principles.
“The art of making these work is based on finding commonalities around which to coalesce and co-operate.
“We have done this well as far as I’m concerned and we will continue to do so in the future,” Trollip said.