Spur, Wimpy and hotel say no to gay-bashing pastor

A pastor who made headlines for praising the mass killings at a gay nightclub in the US won't be welcome at several establishments when he visits South Africa

Steven Anderson, a noted hate preacher from the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, was expected to visit the country in September for a “soul winning marathon”, but his trip has been met with a petition calling on the government to block his entry into the country.

• Petition launched to keep hate speech pastor out of SA 

According to his itinerary, which is available on Facebook‚ Anderson‚ and a group from the US and Canada were planning to start the marathon at the Running Waters Spur in Festival Mall for breakfast then later that day going for lunch at the Wimpy in Festival Mall.

However, both restaurants have said he will not be welcome at their establishments.

“We as the Spur Group‚ are reserving our right to prohibit this person entering any Spur restaurants‚ as his views are contrary to the non-discriminatory and openly tolerance stance of our brand‚” Spur Steak Ranches @SpurRestaurant tweeted.

Wimpy's head office said  in a statement on Facebook, "Anderson is widely recognised for his homophobic pronouncements and has been accused of inciting hate speech. Wimpy has advised Anderson that the business will not permit him to conduct public preaching or religious gatherings in its restaurants. Wimpy reserves the right to prohibit him from entering any Wimpy restaurant.”

Anderson was also expected to preach during a church service at the Premier Hotel OR Tambo, but the hotel has declined his booking.

“This decision was taken when it was brought to our attention that some of the contents of his sermons contradict the Bill of Rights contained within the South African constitution. This particularly relates to clause 9.3 which states that ‘No person may unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds‚ including…sexual orientation…’‚” the group said onFacebook.

Anderson made waves earlier this year when he responded to the murder of 49 people at an Orlando gay nightclub by proclaiming on YouTube that there are now “50 less paedophiles in the world”.

The video is now banned.