Franklin Graham faced hostile protests from LGBT activists as he urged a rally in Wisconsin on Wednesday to elect people who believe in the Bible.
The event on Wednesday was part of Graham's Decision America tour to encourage Christians to vote for Godly candidates. However the public prayer gathering in Madison came under fire for being organised so soon after the shooting in Orlando which killed 49 people in a gay nightclub.
Graham has repeatedly said he believes homosexuality is a sin and warned the LGBT community "that if they want to continue living like this, it's the flames of hell for you".
The Madison based Freedom from Religion Foundation protested at the rally which marks Graham's 28<sup>th stop on his tour of 50 American states. The co-president of FFRF, Annie-Laurie Gaylor, said Graham's remarks promoted hatred and misinformation that the US was founded as a Christian nation, according to Wisonsin public radio.
"Contrary to Franklin Graham's hysterical claims, the LGBT community is not a threat to the United States—but his campaign to legislate religion-fostered discrimination is," she said in a statement.
Rep. Chris Taylor was also among the protesters to stand at the rally holding a rainbow flag.
"I think it's particularly important in light of what happened in Florida. People are just so appalled by this hatred out there," Taylor said according to The Cap Times. "We're just going to be kind of a presence to really send a message that discrimination, intolerance and hatred are not values that we have."
She continued: "I think people are just really upset. They reject this culture of violence and this hatred. People want to do something positive, and show up and say there's another way forward."
Graham describes himself as a former Republican party member and has not endorsed either candidate in the presidential race. However he has backed a number of Donald Trump's policies including a ban on Muslims entering the US.
"Vote for candidates who stand for Biblical truth," Graham told the crowd. "We need men and women today in high places who will honour almighty God."
He opened his remarks on Wednesday with a prayer for the victim of the Orlando shooting but added afterwards the attack was a "symptom" of America in decline.
"I don't think anybody disagrees that our country is not in trouble. It is in trouble. We just saw what happened in Orlando," he said. "The largest mass-shooting in American history. This is sad. It breaks my heart. We have become a godless nation."
