Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert (shown above) has issued a statement in response to criticism from some in the LGBT community, including myself, about his recent decision to join First Baptist Church of Dallas. Leppert previously was a member of Park Cities Baptist Church, which reportedly is among the more socially progressive Southern Baptist congregations. First Baptist has a long anti-gay history and is currently led by the Rev. Robert Jeffress, one of the most prominent anti-gay voices in North Texas. Below is the mayor’s statement, sent over this afternoon by Chris Heinbaugh, Leppert’s openly gay chief of staff. Leppert declined a request for an interview.
“During my time as Mayor I have made a point of reaching out to and including all communities in our diverse City and I am very proud of my record.
“Where my family attends church is a personal matter and one that is entered into prayerfully. My tenure as Mayor should be judged by MY actions, the tone that I have set for the City and a sincere concern for those less fortunate. I will always strive to serve with a humble heart.”
Where he worships is a personal choice, however a public figure does not have much of a personal life when in the public eye. It is impossible to please the masses but little actions do make a big statement.
FUCK HER!
Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but when you chose to become a public figure, you voluntarily gave up your right to have much of a private life.
Religion and church attendance have always been a public part of any political figure’s life. You knew this before you ran for mayor, so it shouldn’t be a surprise to you now.
Also, you tout your religion when it’s to your benefit, then try to say it’s a private matter when it’s not to your benefit. You can’t have your cake and eat it to.
Probably not coincidental that Leppert decided to join First Baptist right as they announced their $130 million expansion adjacent to the arts district:
https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gI6VNFflj-cwI5qGI0XREhyAhqXg
And all this is incidental to John’s original point, which was whether the mayor changed churches to have a bigger base when he runs for Senator when Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns from the Senate which it doesn’t look like she’s going to do.
No it wasn’t David.
The original point that was made was John’s attempt to criticize and put the Mayer on the gay right’s hot seat because he personally joined a church with promotes a belief system that John doesn’t agree with…………….. Let’s not cloud the REAL issue here.
No it wasn’t David.
The original point that was made was John’s attempt to criticize and put the Mayer on the gay right’s hot seat because he personally joined a church with promotes a belief system that John doesn’t agree with…………….. Let’s not cloud the REAL issue here.
No it wasn’t David.
The original point that was made was John’s attempt to criticize and put the Mayer on the gay right’s hot seat because he personally joined a church with promotes a belief system that John doesn’t agree with…………….. Let’s not cloud the REAL issue here.
I think John was correct to raise the issue.
The Tea Baggers (lol at their use of that name!), the far right and Republican candidates all went after Barack Obama because of what was said by the pastor of his Chicago church.
Now, Tom Leppert wants to join a church that is openly hostile to gay people and gay rights and not feel he is tainted by that association.
Well, as someone above said, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. If Leppert wants to do his tithing at a place that is hostile to me, my life and those who I love, then I will not be a supporter of Tom Leppert, plain and simple.
What kind of hypocrite goes to church at First Baptist, listens to the sermons against gay people, drops his cash in the collection plate and then heads over to Oaklawn to march in the Gay Parade? Well, it seems like it takes a Mayorial Hypocrite to do that.
He is not loyal to nor observant of his chosen church’s teachings and he is falsely accepting the applause of gay people along the route of the parade. What a two-bit phony.
He’s lost my support. Period.
I believe that where a person worships says a lot about who you are as a person, you will go to a church for spiritual nourishment and where you feel comfortable. A preacher who spews hate against certain segments of the population is not a good place to be, how can one justify being a member of that church ,support that church and then turn around to say I am for all people? In Montreal we say you ” Join the Cirque de Soleil ” if you want to walk the high wire.