A controversial US preacher who said gay marriage was "a sin" will appear at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow next year after suing the owners for cancelling a previous event.Franklin Graham won £97,000 in damages when a court ruled he had been discriminated against after his show was cancelled in 2020 by Hydro operators Scottish Event Campus.
The 71-year-old had his event called off due to protests over his alleged homophobic views, with further concerns raised that it would promote hate speech, Glasgow Live reports.
Graham, who is the son of late evangelist Billy Graham, will now return to the Hydro in June for his God Loves You Tour. He said: "We are excited to preach the gospel in Glasgow."We are grateful for the thousands of Christians that have stood alongside us."After his event was cancelled in 2020, Franklin's Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), claimed the SEC breached the Equality Act by not letting his show go ahead.Glasgow Sheriff Court later ruled that Graham had been the victim of discrimination and he won £97,000 in damages.A spokesperson for the SEC told Glasgow Live: "The SEC welcomes many and varied performers, artists and speakers to its venues and believes that all have the right to freedom of expression.
This includes Reverend Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association."By doing so, the SEC expresses no view on any content, beliefs or values of any performance or performer." Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.