Michael Brown is a preacher with the Coalition of Conscience. He cavorts with Lou Engle, an extremist linked to the “Kill the Gays” bill in Uganda. Brown’s game is to try inciting followers to possible violence against LGBT people, while innocently maintaining that he loves homosexuals and simply wants them to meet his militant and perverted version of God.
This weekend, Brown tried to ruin LGBT Pride in Charlotte. He rounded up a large group of “Red Shirts” (aka fundamentalist would-be thugs) and marched on the festival under the smug and self-righteous banner of “God Has a Better Way.” Presumably, his “better way” is converting happy and loving LGBT people into self-loathing bigots who pray at the altar of discrimination and hate.
Brown is a slick dude. He fully understands that he is imposing on what should be a day of affirmation for LGBT people in North Carolina. He also knows that many of the people attending Pride in this southern state are victims of anti-gay prejudice, and religion-based bigotry. They come to this annual get together to feel good about themselves and heal old childhood wounds — such as getting bullied, rejected by family, or preached at for their sexual orientation.
Instead of being able to enjoy the weekend, Brown inundates already suffering people with heaping doses of spiritual violence, that I’m quite sure will one day lead to actual violence. I do strongly believe to my core that Brown’s ultimate goal is to create the conditions for a nasty physical clash — in which he will play the victim in the mainstream media, while claiming to be a crusading holy warrior with his incited base. Indeed, the sick and cynical Brown will likely spin such a brouhaha as a fundamentalist version of Stonewall, where Christians began to fight back in the name of “religious freedom.”
Q-Notes editor Matt Comer has followed Brown’s antics for years and has documented his vile speech which seems, in my view, designed to encourage martyrdom. Here is the typical language Brown uses when he addresses his flock:
After being fired as director of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry, Brown wrote he was founding the new FIRE School of Ministry and vowed to “continue to pursue the vision that has burned in my heart for many years: to raise up a holy army of uncompromising, Spirit-filled radicals who will shake an entire generation with the gospel of Jesus-by life or by death” (emphasis added).
I’ve met Brown on two occasions and I have spoken to him. It is my view that he has a messiah complex and is a diabolical individual who aims to manipulate impressionable followers to launch some sort of holy war. Of course, he’s too much of a coward to start the war himself — so he stirs the boiling pot by creating divisive events that just might lead to violence on the part of his followers or a violent response by an LGBT invividual — which will offer the opportunity for his Red Shirts to retaliate in the name of “self defense.”
Of course, I’m not claiming that every person in a red shirt at Pride or involved with Brown wants to harm LGBT people. No doubt, there were well-meaning, yet deceived, individuals that were part of his rude and intolerant invasion squad. However, Brown is a smart man who know how violence works. The madman fully understands that he only has to create a hostile climate to inflame the most unstable of his thugs and they will eventually provoke the type of confrontation that this pathological monster deeply desires.
When Brown’s dream of a brutal clash finally occurs, the blood will be on his hands no matter who throws the first punch or pulls the trigger. After all, Brown is the instigator and is doing everything in his power to bring his twisted dreams to fruition.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Watch out for this man, he’s bad news.
(Here is a loving message from a theocratic thug at Charlotte Pride. Is it possible to have fun and a sense of community when being screamed at by a lunatic?)
data=”http://www.youtube.com/v/m-lKcLWIZwk&feature?fs=1″>You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video
I fully expect him to appear in your comments section. He’s extremely thin skinned and tends to post diatribes on sites that call him out.
I’m sure the ego-maniac will appear to spin his true intentions. He also has some lemming reply too. I can’t recall the brainwashed sheep’s name right now.
Actually they should be wearing brown shirts–the mentality is the same as the Sturmabteilung; brown shirts for Brown’s thugs. Does he know that at Gay Days in Disney World, we all wear red shirts? They’re so unimaginative that they can’t even pick an original color.
Michael sounds like another self-hating closet case. When will we see his a*s on Grindr?
To those who might disregard this as hyperbole, don’t. Michael Brown is bad news. If he follows his pattern, he will post in the comments, then invite others to communicate with him in private (away from public scrutiny).
In most cases I encourage communication, but not with this one. No matter what the result of the exchanges, you will be used for his own purposes. No good comes from attempts to communicate with him.
If you are a follower of Brown, read your Bible for yourself and get as far away from him as you can. His kind of evil goes beyond anti-gay animus.
“…Brown inundates already suffering people with heaping doses of spiritual violence, that I’m quite sure will one day lead to actual violence. I do strongly believe to my core that Brown’s ultimate goal is to create the conditions for a nasty physical clash…”
Event organizers may want to enlist nonviolent peacekeepers to prevent violent from occurring between anti-gay protesters and attendees. Silent Witness Peacekeepers, for example, does excellent (and brave) peacekeeping work at LGBTQ events in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley.
http://www.silentwitnesspa.org/
“Indeed, the sick and cynical Brown will likely spin such a brouhaha as a fundamentalist version of Stonewall, where Christians began to fight back in the name of “religious freedom.”
As a side note, some fundamentalists have already tried to steal the word “Stonewall” from the LGBTQ community for unhealthy ends. For example: http://www.stonewallnow.com/
More on topic, I hope such a violent incident never occurs.
Mr Brown, if you are reading this I’ve got a question for you;
Why use your God as an excuse to attack a group of peaceful citizens innocently enjoying themselves? Why not use your energy fighting to help end the war in Afghanistan or the treatment of some nations leaders of their people? Do you honestly, no messing about, hand on heart, believe that your God is telling you to set about these harmless people?
Here’s a very in-depth report by Kathy Baldock from Canyonwalkers who attended Charlotte Pride and witnessed Mr. Brown’s activities there:
http://canyonwalkerconnections.com/2011/08/31/god-has-a-better-way-dont-stand-in-the-path-of-it/
Where are the pro-equality people of faith? As long as they sit on their hands and allow radical anti-gay jihadists to pervert Christ’s commandments, there will be no improvement. The goal should be to lovingly bring radical anti-gay activist Brown to repentance for his sin of homophobia. And we should be organizing prayer vigils and loving protests wherever he appears. You fight “faith” with real faith. Or else you sit back and allow false prophets to pretend like they are the sole voice of God.
I’ve seen many Silent Witnesses here at PA Pride events – they do an excellent job. i encourage people to contact them.
Michael,
AMEN! Where ARE the decent, truly caring Christians in all this? Are they literally AFRAID of nuts like Michael Brown? Apparently so.
Jerry
“continue to pursue the vision that has burned in my heart for many years: to raise up a holy army of uncompromising, Spirit-filled radicals who will shake an entire generation with the gospel of Jesus-by life or by death”.
Change Jesus to Allah and every ReaLAMErican patriot would be wetting his pants and demanding this hatebag be thrown in GITMO.
Intimidation using a vocal and aggressive militia? Trying to provoke a reaction in order to make his opponents look like the aggressors? Spreading lies in order to forment ill-feeling towards those he victimises? Claiming all his evil actions are for the ‘greater good’?
This ‘man’ is nothing more than a cowardly, hateful, Adolf Hitler wannabe. I would not be surprised if ‘Mein Kampf’ were to be found on his nightstand. Even the picture of him above is reminiscent of the self-aggrandising portraits Hitler had commissioned of himself.
This is how Hitler started. A tiny, vocal minority marching around telling all others how to live their lives.
Not many paid attention to begin with. But Germany at the time was facing a grave threat which made them turn to radicals for answers…
Economic Ruin… much like the US is facing now.
Fascists like Brown need to be shown up for what they are – enemies of freedom and democracy.
I’ll bet he can quote Mein Kampf by heart.
“Change Jesus to Allah and every ReaLAMErican patriot would be wetting his pants and demanding this hatebag be thrown in GITMO.”
Well said, HTP. Well said.
“I would not be surprised if ‘Mein Kampf’ were to be found on his nightstand.”
It is. And like the issues of Playgoat he’s always reading, the pages are all stuck together.
It’s totally disgusting, but I’m still better off than poor Mr. Mustache Comb.
@ Michael Brown’s Nightstand -
Ew!
[...] August, fundamentalist preacher Dr. Michael Brown organized a regimen of red shirted Bible-thumpers to infiltrate Charlotte’s gay pride event. Hundreds of zealots [...]
[...] In that spirit, he has graced me with several articles, including the not so subtly-titled, “Michael Brown Is an Anti-Gay Monster” (August 31, [...]
[...] Brown, hatemonger and busybody extraordinaire, who recently invaded Charlotte Pride with his red-shirted horde of bigots [slogan: "Free water! God hates fags!"] in order to [...]
Dear Wayne,
Why not show what he was saying in context — why do you have to twist Truth; don’t you know that makes you a liar, and proves you point to be invalid? Why not abandon your way for the True Way, if you can see this as true? The True Way is better.
As for “by life or by death” — you know full well that he was NOT speaking of the death of those who oppose their words, but of their OWN deaths: they are prepared to die (not bring death) for their cause.
Why love lies? Why drag everyone along with you? Be very careful — because it is God we will all answer to: if you are misled, it is one thing; but, when you mislead others, you become responsible for their souls, as well. This is a terrifying thing to be responsible for: teachers are judged more strictly than those who do not lead/teach — and it is already hard enough to enter the Kingdom!
Why are you a troll? What possible context could make his God Hates Fags message better? Why do you capitalize True Way? Are you selling something? Is there a money back guarantee for when I inevitably find out your product is b******t? Why do you find pleasure in the idea that your “kingdom” is an exclusive club? Does it make you feel better about your IQ of 70 and your permanent residence in your parents’ basement?
Shhhh, Dan1el, the grown-ups are talking right now.
Dan1el said, “Be very careful — because it is God we will all answer to . . .” Ah, yes, the always-handy fear-card. What would religion do without it?
Don’t be so fearful and gullible, Dan1el. Muster up some courage to think for yourself. Many of us have done that, and then concluded that your religion is a toxic brew of fear, superstition, and fraud.
Fear, superstition, and fraud are the primary ingredients of virtually all religions. The tricky part is adding the right combination of seasonings to make it real tasty.
Dear Dan1el,
You are absolutely, right. One day we will all answer to God, including you. I just hope when Judgment Day occurs, you too will be able to face God with a clear conscience. Please heed your own advice and quit leading LGBT people astray by telling them that in order to follow the “True Way” they need to change who they are. You should be using scripture and holy texts to help LGBT’s accept themselves as God created them, not to make false assumptions and promises that they can change. This only leads to self-hatred and self-destructive behavior. I’m sure the Almighty will look upon that with great displeasure. More so than when two persons of the same gender commit to each other for life. Here’s hoping that you will change and embrace God and all His creations as they are.
Richard,
Love that last part. Totally going to steal it. :-)
I love it when people say “you’ve taken that out of context” as though putting it in context would make it any better.
Dan1el said “Be very careful — because it is God we will all answer to”.
No, it is your god who will answer to me because he’s a figment of my imagination just as he’s a figment of your’s.
Wayne,
Would you be willing to edit or in any other way, change your story, since you now know that Dr. Brown was not calling for anyone’s death?
Wayne,
I guess, at this point in the journey, “Truth” does not “win out” — does it, Mr. Besen?
You know, all I ever see from anyone on either side of this issue is childishness. The Christians are loud and obnoxious, so the LGBT community thinks it needs to be loud and obnoxious, but everyone on both sides claims to be loving and peaceful.
And yes, god, context is needed. That’s journalism. Here’s some context for you. I used to be a student of Dr. Brown’s. I spend three years under his tutelage. Do I now believe that he is misguided in many of his beliefs? Yes, but from my background, that actually puts me as the odd man out. But, though I believe him to be wrong on this issue, I have never known him to be hateful. For example, that video showing the men screaming and preaching hate and hell…that wasn’t his group. That’s not their style. The motto is “hate the sin, love the sinner” and though some of what they say has a core of hate, they do not mean it that way.
That being said, not everyone in Brown’s camp can be characterized as such, but they will more often than not be the ones having actual conversations with you, than yelling at you.
I’ve lost touch with that camp over the years, and I know they’ve become a bit more vocal, but not like in that video.
So, both sides really need to relax. I understand standing up for your beliefs, but the yelling has to stop.
That is all. Please ignore the (hopefully) unbiased third part, and return to your day.
Stop lying Carlton. There is no such thing as “love the sinner hate the sin”. The sin and the sinner are the same thing. To claim otherwise is simply sophistry and you have no right to complain just because someone dared to look past it.
Ahhhh….but I never said I agreed with the “hate the sin, love the sinner” philosophy. I simply said it was what they think they are doing. I personally think it is impossible in the end. If you hate an action, you will eventually disdain those who perform that action, but this group specifically is attempting not to disdain. It may get there. Heck, it will probably get there, but I’m not sure it’s there yet. The real point is that the above article was written with just as much hatred and loaded language as the author claims Brown’s group holds, which helps nothing.
Yes, but Brown is the bad guy..a bigot who follows an inferior and fundamentalist form of Christiantiy. He admits he is working to ensure that families like mine do not get the rights and protections we deserve.
He has earned any hatred that comes his way, and does not deserve to be treated as if he were a member of decent and civilized society, a good man, a good parent (not possible with his beliefs, as he is training his children to be bigots) or a decent Christian.
Not one word of that article was inappropriate or inaccurate, or incorrect in the tone in which it was written.
He owes apologies to us for the hatred he shows us, and will have to answer to God for it some day.
Period. If anything, considering what a terrible person he is (I listen to him to keep myself informed of the other sides evil, and to do my best to counter it wherever and whenever I can. I find listening to him strenghthens me in my work for GLBT rights) I think Wayne was cooing like a dove in the above article.
I’ve observed Brown’s shtick for a long time. He knows how to use the appearance of civility, thoughtfulness, consideration, politeness, and courtesy when it serves his goal of destroying our lives.
There is an old saying that goes something like:
If it sounds like a nice gentle duck, and stinks like a fart, it’s probably Michael Brown.
What do you think Michael Brown hopes to gain from opposing GLBTs.
I truly think he is sincere in the sense that he believes truly that gay relationships / sex is always wrong and destructive to the person practicing them either physically and or spiritualy.
NOTE: I am not commenting on my view I am merely stating that HE (mr. Brown and many Christians like him…do really believe that they are being loving ..yes loving towards GLBTs by telling them what they believe to be the truth…in hopes of their repentance..so they are saved from what they believe is current and future suffering.
So maybe you think they are wrong that fine but just like GLBTs have a right to protest and make their view known so should people who disagree.
I truly do not believe he and most Christians hate GLBTs people. Whether they are misled is another question altogether. but lets be honest about it.
Are GLBT people so childish they can not stand for someone to have a contrary view of GLBT sex practices? Everyone is entitled to their view and to express it.
Of course calls for violence are unacceptable though and I do not think he was doing that.
Sorry Wayne but your over the top. You do not have to like him and you can disagree with him but this is a America and in public space people have the right to express their views.
Likewise they do not have to like or agree with GLBT “lifestyles” but need to respect their rights to privacy, puruse employment and housing etc.
[...] no publishing house thought it was fit to print. Perhaps most insidiously, Brown also likes to invade LGBT Pride festivals with gangs of fundamentalist Christian theocrats who wear anti-gay T-shirts [...]