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Tennessee Church Won’t Hold Dying Man’s Funeral Because His Son Is Gay: WATCH

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From left to right: Brandon Smitty and Jessie Goodman.

Jessie Goodman’s father is 71 years-old and dying.

His last wish? To have his funeral at the first church he attended, Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church, in Sweetwater, TN and he wants his son to sing the song “The Anchor Holds” at his funeral.

When the church found out Goodman’s fiancé, Brandon Smitty, was a man, they suddenly rejected the request.

“They’re punishing my dad for a lifestyle choice I’ve made. Its not me up there in a casket. It’s him,” Goodman told News Channel 9. 

News Channel 9 reported:

Goodman says the pastor’s beliefs won’t let that happen.

“As long as I was going to take part in any way, he [Goodman’s father] could not have his service there,” said Goodman. 

Goodman says the church’s pastor, and some of its members, don’t want him or his fiance to be involved in the service because they’re gay.

We called Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church’s Pastor Jay Scruggs to see if this was true.

Pastor Scruggs had no comment, but did say he would talk with us after Jessie’s father is in the grave.

News Channel 9

According to Yahoo News: When Goodman broke the news to his father that he would only be able to honor one of his final wishes, he told the news station his dad was devastated

“He did know that his funeral wouldn’t happen there, and he had a very hurt look on his face when we told him that,” said Goodman.

After speaking out about the discrimination he’s faced from Lee’s Chapel Baptist Church, hundreds from the local community have come to Goodman’s support and have called out the church for its “shameful” actions.

“Shameful that this organization refuses to allow a man his last wish (to have his funeral at their sanctuary) just because his son is gay,” a local wrote on the church’s Yelp page. “This is not a church that I would even consider visiting. What sort of Christians turn down family in their time of need?”

Goodman posted on Facebook: I need a member of Lee’s Chapel Church to call me. Better yet maybe your pastor or one of your deacons should call me.

Sadly, to no avail.

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