A prominent pro-Trump Christian says he was fired from his role as vice president of the Kennedy Center just because he refused to renounce his belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.
Floyd Brown, the founder of Western Journal, had been recruited about a month ago to serve as the performing arts center’s vice president.
He accused Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell, who is married to a man, of being intimidated by a CNN hit piece that highlighted what the news network called Brown’s anti-gay rhetoric.
He asked to speak to Grenell for an explanation, but his request was rejected. The Kennedy Center has not responded to inquiries about the allegations.
Brown said “the only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing. ‘Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired.’ Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity.”
CNN’s KFile published the attack on Brown Thursday titled, “Far-Right with history of anti-gay comments fired from leadership role at Kennedy Center after CNN investigation.”
Brown said the article, which is behind a paywall, rehashed “past writings and statements about traditional marriage and homosexual influence in the GOP.”
Brown released a statement CNN in response to their hit piece.
“It is an honor to work at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and with the many amazing people who are employed here. Comments rooted in my personal Christian views, which I have made in the past, have no impact upon my work here at the Kennedy Center nor do they impinge on my interactions with colleagues who do incredible work for the patrons of the Center. As a Christian I am called to work with others of different beliefs and worldviews.”
Brown said there was no intention to offend anyone with his Christian beliefs.
“I have never intended to attack or demean any person in my statements, and have always shared the mission of Jesus, striving to love others unconditionally. The amazing beauty of the MAGA movement is we have people of many different beliefs inside our tent. We are all working together in unity to Make America Great Again,” he wrote on X.
If Brown’s version of events are accurate it would represent a very unfortunate misstep for the Trump Administration. If Brown was fired for refusing to renounce his deeply held religious beliefs that would constitute a severe violation of the U.S. Constitution. Christians cannot be disqualified for public service based solely on their religious beliefs.
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