Grayson Fritts, a Tennessee Police Detective and Pastor, Calls for the Execution of LGBTQ People: Video

(Photo: Grayson Fritts / Screenshot from WBIR YouTube video)

As we hit the mid-way point of Pride Month, a video has surfaced from a sermon given at All Scripture Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn., by Pastor Grayson Fritts where he argues that LGBTQ people should be executed. Not only is Fritts a “pastor” but a detective in the Knox County Sheriff’s office.

In his hour-long rant, earlier this month attacking the moral compass of LGBTQ people, he refers to them as “freaks,” “animals,” and “sodomites,” and suggested they be put to death.

“God has instilled the power of civil government to send the police in 2019 out to the LGBT freaks and arrest them and have a trial for them, and if they are convicted, then they are to be put to death,” he said to a favorable crowd.

Fritts later added that the “Bible says that sentence should be carried out speedily.”

The church originally posted a video of his “sermon” on its Facebook page, but then took it down. However, it was already shared and then went viral.

Fritts started to get national backlash, but he stuck by his word one week after he made those comments. “What I believe about homosexuals is straight from the word of God,” he said.

He accused other church leaders of being spineless, calling for them to carry out the message of God.

Last week, three elected officials all criticized him. Jim Cooper, who is a US House Representative, said “Let’s be very clear. This Knox County Sheriff’s detective is preaching about murdering LGBTQ people. There is no ambiguity. There is no confusion. He is suggesting the execution of our friends and neighbors.”

He has been suspended from his job as a detective at Knox County Sheriff’s Office. He is on paid leave until July 19, according to WATE. The District Attorney is looking into some of Mr. Fritts’ prior transgressions during his 30 years as a detective.

Someone left a note on a small rainbow flag, saying, “Dear Pastor Fritts, I don’t know what happened to you, but I am so sorry. Love, Thy Neighbor.”

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