An openly gay and married pastor has criticised evangelist Franklin Graham, claiming he "does not love the LGBTQ community", following Graham’s condemnation of Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde for rebuking Donald Trump during his 21st January inaugural service at the National Cathedral.
During an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal on 29th January, Rev Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, who is president and CEO of the Interfaith Alliance, pushed back against Graham’s claims that Budde had used the pulpit to advance a political agenda.
Instead, he argued that Budde was preaching the Gospel, in her rightful position as bishop of the cathedral.
Rev Paul accused Graham of spreading harmful rhetoric toward the LGBTQ and Muslim communities and insisted: "Franklin Graham is no Billy Graham."
Beyond his critique of Graham, Rev Paul also condemned Trump’s recent executive order on transgender healthcare, titled Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Castration.
He argued that it makes trans youth and their families feel unsafe and forces parents into government overreach.
Caller: "[Bishop Mariann Budde] used his name personally and lectured him. She was wrong. She was also wrong – and I'm hearing you use the term LGBTQ a lot too. That's divisive."
— Washington Journal (@cspanwj) January 29, 2025
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush: "The people I've heard from most were non-Christians who were like… pic.twitter.com/3S8A01iVGe
"I know parents of trans children who have had to move away from their state because they could not provide the care their children required," he said.
Rev Paul also accused conservatives of co-opting religious freedom, saying: "A lot of times conservatives use the term 'religious freedom,' but it’s always religious freedom for me, not for thee."
He called for a broader approach that includes non-religious individuals in the conversation about rights and freedoms.