Why Is The Church ‘Jesus House’ So Problematic?
In 2017 P.C. (pre-Covid), Theresa May met with the church. No big deal, right? Well, it just so happened that this church is known as Jesus House. This very holy place tends to hold some less-than-holy opinions on LGBTQ+ people. The Bible says we should love everyone, yet Jesus House has a history of being extremely homophobic. LGBTQ+ rights campaigner Peter Tatchell described May’s decision to visit the church as:
“Theresa May’s decision to visit pastor Agu Irukwu and Jesus House is an insult to the whole LGBT community but especially to black LGBT people,”
Let’s take a look at Agu Irukwu’s history. Voted as Britain’s most inspirational black person in 2011, Irukwu once signed a letter insisting that churches should not “promote the idea that homosexuality is equal to heterosexuality.” In 2006, he and other pastors wrote to the Daily Torygraph (paywall, very Tory) to express outrage over the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations. This act aimed to make discrimination based on sexual orientation illegal. In short, Irukwu believes homosexuality is a sin and should be illegal in the UK.
The Daily Torygraph seemed to like Irukwu, as he signed a letter in 2013 (paywall). This time, he was upset over the idea that two people of the same gender would be able to marry each other. In a letter where much more pressing topics, such as ticking time-bomb Trident are discussed, Irukwu is getting irked by two men kissing at the altar. Just goes to show that everyone’s priorities are different.
“But that’s just one guy? Surely Theresa May is not a homophobe?”
That’s a tricky question. Theresa May never used to back LGBTQ+ issues, definitely not in her early career. She held a very conservative stance on these issues. In 2004, she did not vote for or against gender recognition laws. However, she voted in favour of civil partnerships for same-sex couples. After apologising for her earlier votes, May even changed her stance on gay adoption, citing:
“On gay adoption I have changed my mind… because I have been persuaded that when you are looking at the future for a child, I think it’s better for a child who is perhaps in an institutional environment, if they have an opportunity of being in a stable, family environment — be that a heterosexual couple or a gay couple.”
This was when David Cameron was Prime Minister, and his government seemed surprisingly supportive (especially for Conservatives, and especially compared to now) on the issue of LGBTQ+ rights. In fact, May even played a key role in same-sex marriage in England and Wales. In 2017, she sought to transform the Gender Recognition Act and make gender changes far easier for transgender people.
Theresa May might not be as homophobic as Boris Johnson, but she did get a wave of criticism for the visit to the church and for treatment of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, who were forced to get through degrading and sometimes odd tests to prove their sexuality. And despite a government review, these issues continued.
Speaking of Boris Johnson, he also visited Jesus House. He even created a COVID-19 vaccination centre at the church. Yeah… Conservatives seem to have a weird liking of Jesus House. With Theresa May, it was surprising considering her social liberalism, not so much with De Pfeffel though.
In December 2009, he paid a visit to Jesus House, and said that they do “a lot of good work for the community in Barnet and beyond.” Yet, despite the fact that the Greater London Authority (people who run most of London) say Boris Johnson deplores homophobia and would never promote intolerance against any community, he has had a rougher history than his predecessor Theresa May.
If you’re gay, black, a Muslim woman, Islamic, female or Malaysian, he’s poked fun at you. He described gay men as “tank-topped bumboys”, and “the soft-lit Soho drinking clubs frequented by Mandy and his pals.” He also wrote in the Spectator in 2000, attacking Labour for “encouraging the teaching of homosexuality in schools.” That would explain the now appalling track record the UK government has on LGBTQ+ rights, we’ve elected a homophobe. May’s visit to the church was hard to understand, but Johnson’s visit was just his thinly veiled homophobia coming out of the closet.
So why are people so pissed off about Jesus House and the church’s sexist, racist, homophobic pastor. Another key leader has visited the church. No, not Boris Johnson. Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party. You know, the left-wing, socially and economically liberal party? Yeah. Starmer is not really helping his publicity at the moment with this visit. Despite being praised for being a good opposition to Boris Johnson during his government’s continuing mishandling of the pandemic, he’s also giving off proper Tory vibes.
He’s confusing, this one. Like Theresa May, he’s supportive of LGBTQ+ rights. He let us know how important it was that trans people were able to self-identify at the PinkNews Awards last year, and also brought up the importance of reforming the Gender Recognition Act.
Why do politicians keep visiting Jesus House? The vile, homophobic church completely misinterpret the Bible’s teachings. God literally says we should love everyone, and now while I don’t know much about religion, loving everyone also means loving our LGBTQ+ community. It is perfectly okay to support a religion. If you do, make sure your church has a good track record on LGBTQ+ rights and that they’re supportive and loving of these people, ethnic minorities and women.
