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World National |
Tammy Faye Speaks at Gay Pride FestTAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Tammy Faye Messner says she has lots in common with gays and lesbians – she, too, knows what it feels like to be ostracized. « Like you, I’ve suffered, » said Messner, the keynote speaker at Tampa’s annual PrideFest party. « We’ve all been misunderstood. We’ve all been made fun of. But I’m not going to allow people who don’t like me to rent space in my brain. » Messner, who with then-husband Jim Bakker ran the Praise the Lord television ministry in the mid-1980s, supported homosexuals at a time when the rest of America was fearful of AIDS (news – web sites). At Friday night’s gathering in Tampa, Messner delivered a rousing speech based on her faith that « God loves you just the way you are. » She led the crowd in a chorus of « Jesus Loves Me » and compared her own tribulations after the scandalous downfall of the ministry to those experienced by gays. « I’ve been called everything by the media but a Christian, » she said. « Yet I think God loves unique people. » The crowd was responsive. Lloyd Richardson, 28, of Tallahassee, echoed a typical sentiment when he said he was astounded by Messner’s commitment to the gay community. « I mean, she’s Jim Bakker’s ex-wife, » Richardson said. « But God bless her. We need more like her. » |