Gay Hater Stephen Green to appear on Channel Four

Written by Don Westbury. Lynn Swift & Dominic Knight

Friday, 30 July 2010 12:35

Controversial figure Stephen Green, director of the anti-gay Christian Voice, is to appear on Channel Four next week. Green will discuss his viewers on homosexuality as a week-long theme religion and homosexuality on Channel Four in its 4thought strand. Green’s appearance on the broadcaster is expected to cause controversy amongst gay rights groups who feel his appearance - and voicing his views - will legitimise what he is saying.

Stephen Green will appear in one episode of 4thought and will be one of several religious representatives discussing homosexuality and religion. 4thought is a short documentary, no longer than five minutes in length, which airs on Channel Four each night at 7.55 following the broadcasters news programme. For Green’s appearance on 4thought he is expected to quote heavily from the Bible’s Book of Revelations and attack homosexuality and the UK’s now liberal attitude towards it.

However, Channel Four have stated that alongside Green will be a pro-gay Christian to balance out things. Never-the-less Christian Voice and Stephen Green remain highly controversial and will doubtless anger many gay and lesbians who feel that such hateful language should not be broadcast. Representatives from the Hindu and Muslim religions will also feature across the week on 4thought.

Christian Voice was one of the Christian lobby groups who protested against BBC Two’s broadcasting of Jerry Springer: The Opera several years ago. The group tried unsuccessfully to make the BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, to court over the broadcast - claiming it was blasphemous. The court ruled in Thompson’s favour and Green was ordered to pay substantial costs - Christian Voice claimed at the time it would leave Green bankrupt. In 2009 Green courted controversy for his support of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Bill which was widely reported to include the death penalty for anyone found guilty of being gay. Green spoke in favour of such a move and claimed the Bible called for the death penalty for sodomy.

Green and his Christian Voice group have been criticised by all political parties and religions, including Christian groups and organisations. His vocal and provocative use of language in regards to homosexuality have won him few fans bar the few homophobes that still exist on the fringes of society.