Jimmy Carter on LGBT Rights: Jesus Didn't Discriminate Against Anyone

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter recently spoke in support of gay rights, according to Christian Today. The Baptist Sunday School teacher made his comments at Grand Rapids Community College in Colorado Monday as part of a diversity lecture series.

In a video posted on mlive.com Carter said, "I never knew of any word or action of Jesus Christ that discriminated against anyone.”

The comments came in response to a question from the audience about human rights and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

“I’m a Baptist, and I believe that each congregation is autonomous and can govern its own affairs,” Carter said. “So if a local Baptist church wants to accept gay members on an equal basis, which my church does by the way, then that is fine. If a church decides not to, then government laws shouldn’t require them to.”

Carter is a member of Maranatha Baptist Church in Georgia.

Carter's comments spurred debate on blogs and various social media sites.

“Jesus didn't hand out cash and valuable prizes to his LGBT friends. And neither does the U.S. Constitution,” said one poster. 

Publication date: September 25, 2014