Should the anti gay brigade in the USA be allowed so much air time?

I don't think they should as it's discriminatory in my opinion. Free speech is one thing, hate speech is quite another! The poor adolescents growing up having to hear that when they are considering how they feel about themselves and wanting to be free to be who they are. It must be awful.  I suppose the strong religious stance of the US is part of it, although being Christian doesn't mean you have to be a homophobe or have such awful views! My argument is always that if you do believe there is a God surely it is his place to judge, not ours.  

But back to the question, I do not think it should be allowed.

Personally I think freedom of speech outweighs all other rights, people are entitled to their views much better to say what you think, rather than say what you think someone might want to hear.... People will always be offended by others beliefs, much rather people say what they have to say to my face than behind my back...

Thank you both for your interesting replies. It is a difficult one as on the one hand people should have the freedom to speak their mind, but if the words cause so much offence to a group of people there is perhaps a moral issue. Should you be free to say things in public that are hurtful. 

This preacher is quoting from a book in the Old Testament that God gave his chosen people, the people of Iseral. It was a book of conduct for when they left the holy land to roam the promised lands. So the Preacher is quoting from something that was originally meant for the people of Iseral. Plus when the New Testament came about, people felt much that was in the Old Testament just didn't matter nowadays. But he is still given air time to preach his hurtful comments. 

I personally don't do religion although I was brainwashed at birth into believing that I belonged to a particular faith.... But I do believe that if you wish to impose your views / beliefs on others then others also have that same right to do so to you. I'm afraid some people will always find the gay scene offensive, it may over time change where everyone excepts it, I doubt it but it might. But at the moment there are still too many people from different generations. As an example both my parents find the whole gay scene offensive, are they bigots for not being PC and excepting the way things are now? Of course their not, their grandchildren and great grandchildren have totally different views with half their friends all claiming to be gay....

I see what you're saying but with that argument you have to let the Ku Klux clan have their own tv channnel....?? I know you can't stop everyone saying anything offensive as that's ridiculous but surely certain hateful language or rhetoric shouldn't be allowed? I know you can't change what people believe and nor is it the states right to but should you allow such persecution against a whole group of people?

I think this is probably one of those topics where there is no definitive answer. Funny enough I and some colleagues have been working in Soho Square today putting in a heating system for 20th Century at lunchtime we went for a shandy in a local pub in Old Compton Street. We were the only 4 heterosexuals in the pub, none of us had the urge to broadcast to all the other drinkers that we were the only 4 heterosexuals in the pub. Funny as it may seem, I started discussing this thread as one of my friends is your typical Jamaican, dreadlocks down to his backside and so forth, people don't get it when they see him and I together as I guess people think we're like chalk and cheese, but we've known each other for over 30 years, have traveled together, know each others families. And comes in handy when the local clutch fitter has mugged you off So I thought I'd ask him the question about the KKK  Maybe because me and him are always on the same wavelength I don't know, but I asked him if he would prefer someone who was racist, to be upfront about it to his face (would need to be a brave soul to try) or would he rather someone be nice as pie to him and then at the weekends practice their KKK stuff.... He chose the first option, which I guessed he would. Closer to home we have our very own EDL, they don't represent me or anyone I know. But they do have the right to protest as well as the freedom of speech, now would you prefer them to be out in the open, or would you prefer them to be banned and to go underground, because they will always exist......  

Some interesting points Barney.  Never heard of EDL but wouldn't want to meet them.   I guess in a free society people should be able to speak freely. I suppose we don't have to listen to them. The only danger is that others will be influenced by them.  Another point is I would assume our police and secret service are aware of such groups and keeping an eye on them. 

What gets me is that so called US preacher saying 'because it's in the bible, it must be true' well so are lots of things,  children critical of their parents, should be put to death' is from the same book as the preacher has been reading from. I think we can accept that much of what is in the bible just doesn't match today's lifestyles. Plus I wonder how much of mans own devilment he has introduced into the bible. I can believe a holy being would say 'put to death' surely God is all loving, giving and forgiving. 

Well the bible also states 'though shall not kill' but as a supposed Christian country the UK is usually at war somewhere in the world usually with a padre in tow, preaching from the good book to both men and women with state of the art weapons.... Been in this position myself, where I have one person telling me to love my neighbour with peace and goodwill to all mankind. And an OC standing next to the padre saying "shoot them before they shoot you".... As a non believer I had trouble with this, the Christians however seemed to be quite trigger happy and Rambo like...

What a great thread, I told you we'd missed you Paul 

Freedom of speech is essential for any democracy, unfortunately it's part of the package of a tolerant and enlightened society. It seems nuts to a lot of us having an imam being allowed to live and preach in our country, while knocking Western beliefs. Likewise why do we tolerate an organisation like the English Defence League which is in affect a bunch of football hooligans with extreme right wing views.

Opposite ends of the spectrum, but the alternative is a Police State, tightly controlled press and views and opinion driven underground as Barney said.

But does that mean that "hate speech" or strong beliefs should be allowed media air time? 

Our society is far from perfect, and there are plenty of things we get wrong, but I would sooner allow free speech including extreme views, but allow it to be covered under existing law and legislation. So if you have a strong opinion that goes against the populous, you should be allowed to voice it. But if you incite hatred, either from the pulpit, microphone or website or use terminology or actions which cross the line, then we should let the full force of the law come down on that individual or organisation.

If we decide collectively that the letter of the law isn't strong enough, or a belief or view is undermining our society, then we do something about it. eg petitions, talking to MPs, making it newsworthy. This is democracy, its slow, cumbersome and frustrating at times, but it's also ever evolving as we all are, as are other nations such as the USA, France, Germany etc.

I think we live in a genuinely fascinating time, which our great grandchildren may look back at us through the lense of history in shock and horror. But we are all shaped by our own family and community histories. Think of the world our parents and Grandparents grew up in, and the social, political, economic and technological changes they have witnessed which has shaped their beliefs.

Even thinking of the changes I've seen in my lifetime. In the 1990's I remember being on guard duty, and the inside of the pill box had names and photos of former serviceman who had been dishonourably discharged for being gay, and given 24 hours to leave the base and never to return. Not sure if they thought we would all suddenly go gay? But, wrong or incredible as it sounds now, it seemed perfectly reasonable at the time, and I can't remember ever hearing anyone saying it was a bad thing. When you joined, you had to make a declaration that you weren't homosexual. Those were the rules. 

Then more incredibly you have the likes of Apartheid in South Africa only formally ending in 1994, all of this is very recent living history.

It's no wonder there are so many extremist and narrow minded views still around the world. It will no doubt take another couple of generations for them to subside. But if you look how far we have progressed in the last 100 years, I think free speech, common sense and a sense of increasing morality will prevail. Which will hopefully act as a heavier counter weight to extremist views, from sexuality to religion, no matter how much air time or publicity they get.

Remember the BNP and the public outcry that it's leader Nick Griffin appeared on Question Time? Couldn't get better media exposure, which in fact sealed their fate to the point the BNP are now pretty much a spent force.

But lets let the legal system handle hate speech and crimes, and if it's not working, change it, which should go for any democratic Country, UK, USA or anywhere else.