Bus Company Pulls Adverts for Franklin Graham Event
Bus ads promoting the September 2018 Franklin Graham "Lancashire Festival of Hope" at Winter Gardens Blackpool were pulled in response to criticism from LGBT communities. Graham, like many evangelicals, preaches the biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
A spokesperson for Blackpool Transport said, "Blackpool Transport has recently been made aware of an advert in place on the side of some of our double decker buses. In light of customer feedback and reactions on social media which has resulted in heightened tension, we have taken the decision to remove all adverts relating to the 'Time for Hope' Festival with immediate effect."
According to the Christian Post, Jane Cole, managing director at Blackpool Transport, explained their decision to pull the bus ads: "Blackpool Transport is a proud ongoing supporter of the Pride and LGBT+ communities and in no way did we intend to cause any distress or upset."
In response to the company's explanation for the advertising ban, Franklin Graham said in an official statement: "Because the Christian community is also a customer, we hope Blackpool Transport will listen to our public feedback as well, and not show what appears to be a potential bias against Christians."
Speaking to Premier earlier this year, Graham said: "I'm not coming to preach hate, I'm here to preach about a saviour - Jesus Christ who can make a difference in our lives if we put our faith and trust in him."
Sources: Blackpool Gazette, Christian Post, Lancashire Festival of Hope Facebook Page, Lancashire Festival of Hope website, and Premier
Photo: Lancashire Festival of Hope Facebook Page