Mmusi Maimane’s homophobic church
Maimane compromises himself and the DA in standing by the homophobic Liberty Church leader, writes Gareth van Onselen
When it emerged in May 2015 that then-DA leadership contender Mmusi Maimane simultaneously served as a pastor at the homophobic Liberty Church he denied any prejudice on his part and defended the right of others to hold private, prejudiced views. "My conviction is that one can no more choose his or her sexual orientation than their eye colour or place of birth," Maimane said of his own principles. "In matters of my personal decision making, the Constitution protects my right and the right of millions of other South Africans to hold beliefs based on our respective and varied faiths," he said of the principles of Liberty Church. All this was in response to comments Maimane had delivered from the pulpit: "Because, you know what, I am a sinner. So I guess we can be friends, right? But I don’t want to just be their friend ’cause I want them to think, I’m like, they are like a project. "I want them to sincerely know I’m their friend. So, you know what I am most grateful of, is that in my ...
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