Grace Fellowship Church, Fruitland, TN #fundie #homophobia #psycho

Grace Fellowship Church, Fruitland, TN #fundie #homophobia #psycho addictinginfo.org

No one would be surprised to learn that there are right-wing Christians in this country who disapprove of homosexuality. Neither would it come as a surprise that in rural parts of this country, Christianity and homosexuality when brought together, can create a highly combustible mix.

But who could imagine the hate and rage that would motivate a Pastor to instruct deacons and members of his congregation, Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland, TN. to physically attack a couple arriving in the church parking lot last Wednesday?

The fact that one of the gay men attacked happened to be the Pastor’s own son, Jerry Pittman, Jr., no doubt contributed to Pittman senior’s noxious edict. According to Pittman Jr., after hearing his Dad yell, “SICK’EM!:”

“My uncle and two other deacons came over to the car per my dad’s request. My uncle smashed me in the door as the other deacon knocked my boyfriend back so he couldn’t help me, punching him in his face and his chest. The other deacon came and hit me through my car window in my back.”

The attackers also verbally assaulted the couple continually with anti-gay verbiage which continued even after a Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on the scene. Bystanders and other congregants made no effort to stop the assault. For that matter, neither did the Deputy Sheriff. Once the barrage of punches ended, the Deputy refused to let the two victims press charges.

Jerry Pittman Jr. and his boyfriend, Dustin Lee, have since filed charges against two of the men who beat them as well as Pastor Jerry Pittman. A hearing has been scheduled in Gibson County Court for Tuesday, October 4th.

One can’t help but wonder if Pastor Pittman really thinks Jesus would back him up on this assault?

80 comments

old comment by Mudak

I'm of several minds on the question of why no one helped, as it's simultaneously troubling and not implicitly a consequence of homophobia. Witness apathy happens all the time; look up Kitty Genovese (although some modern scholars question the ongoing notion that people were there and just watched) and the Phil Ochs song "Outside of a Small Circle of Friends".

Sure, homophobia might've been a reason not to help. As could that morbid fascination with watching and not thinking. Or not wanting to stand up to a community leader (which could be related to homophobia but doesn't require the knowledge of who was being attacked or why). Or even not wanting to get hurt.

I'm not saying it's right, but it doesn't have to be homophobia.

old comment by dionysus

Neither would it come as a surprise that in rural parts of this country, Christianity and homosexuality when brought together, can create a highly combustible mix.

With ignorance being the primary catalyst.

But who could imagine the hate and rage that would motivate a Pastor to instruct deacons and members of his congregation, Grace Fellowship Church in Fruitland, TN. to physically attack a couple arriving in the church parking lot last Wednesday?

I could, because I've seen how crazy a conservative Christian's intense, irrational hatred can make them. The same exact type of scenario was the norm after the end of slavery all the way through he civil rights movement.

The fact that one of the gay men attacked happened to be the Pastor’s own son, Jerry Pittman, Jr., no doubt contributed to Pittman senior’s noxious edict.

You attacked your own family?!? You psychopath! You fucking monster!

Bystanders and other congregants made no effort to stop the assault. For that matter, neither did the Deputy Sheriff. Once the barrage of punches ended, the Deputy refused to let the two victims press charges.

Stunning work, officer. Way to protect and serve, asshole! Gay or not, this is fucking assault and your actions show that you are unworthy of having a badge.

Jerry Pittman Jr. and his boyfriend, Dustin Lee, have since filed charges against two of the men who beat them as well as Pastor Jerry Pittman. A hearing has been scheduled in Gibson County Court for Tuesday, October 4th.

Good, and if that court decides to be as stupid as the deputy sheriff, keep appealing the case until you get to one that'll bring justice.

old comment by Skatepunk

Jerry Pitman Sr., you are no longer allowed to preach love after this incident. You ordered an attack on two people. That alone proves how evil and full of HATE that you are.

Don't even PRETEND you did it in the name of Jesus. Jesus would never stand for a physical attack in his name.

I am paraphrasing Issac Asimov, so correct me if I'm off. "Those who will get the worst punishment in the afterlife are those who slandered God by inventing Hell."

In other words, by ordering this attack in the name of God, you slandered God. And you can't even say you were guided by the Old Testament since you did not use stones.

And Percy, I really wish that weren't the case, but we both know that the saying is true. I can only be thankful that the Christians in my area are actually loving and actually fund homeless shelters.

old comment by Anon-e-moose

"No one would be surprised to learn that there are right-wing Christians in this country who disapprove of homosexuality."

And no-one would be surprised to learn that not all Christians in the US are right-wing. Except you, that is.

Ever hear of Quakers, Unitarian Universalists, Amish/Mennonites etc? Seems that they have absolutely no problem whatsoever with LGBT people. So, taking these Christians in particular into account, why do you?

...oh, and the irony of the fact this place in Tennessee, no less, is called Fruitland clearly isn't lost on them. [/hyper-sarcasm]. Oh, and Canuovea, re.:

http://www.fstdt.net/QuoteComment.aspx?QID=83937&Page=6

...now you know precisely why we in the UK have Section 5 of the Public Order Act, and why our Police have a Zero Tolerance policy against Hate Crime/Speech. And why it wouldn't kill the US to have the same. The above would never have been allowed to happen in the first place, if there were such hyper-draconian laws. With rights come responsibilities, and all that jazz.

The defence rests.

old comment by Unknown

First of all, Jesus has nothing to do with any of this. The fact is that So called Pastor Jerry Pittman and his moron decons are just evil violent guys and use the church as a cover up to pretend they are good god fearing people when in face they are violent people who should be locked up. I have know Jerry Pittman the so called Pastor for over 30 years and I can assure you that he has Never been an angel by far, even back when he was married to his first wife. I am just sad that he hasn't been in jail all these years so he couldn't have the chance to hurt people and scam them out of everything. I use to think he and his first wife was god fearing people and worshipped the ground they walked on, until I found out the true meaning of our friendship and how they used me and then told everybody things that I would tell them in private. Since that day I learned my lesson to never put your faith in man and I have never attended church again, not using that as an excuse to attend church but I just lost all interest in church. They left their scares in my heart and it saddens me to know all these years of all the people they took advantage of and hurt mentally and physcially.