England's largest gay rights advocate, Stonewall, has named televangelist Pat Robertson its "Bigot of the Year."
The group announced its recipient during its eighth annual Stonewall Awards, which took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Robertson beat out four nominees to claim this year's title: Niall Ferguson, Reverend George Gebauer, Scott Lively and Winston McKenzie.
Robertson, the host of the Christian Broadcasting Network's (CBN) 700 Club, has a long history of making anti-gay remarks.
In August, he made headlines for claiming that gay men in San Francisco deliberately spread HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, with special rings that cut others when shaking hands.
A 700 Club viewer asked whether it was wrong for her church not to inform her that she was driving to worship services a man who is "dying of AIDS." Robertson told the woman she would be fine provided she didn't "have sex with them," then added, "unless there's a cut or some bodily fluid transmission."
"There are laws now," Robertson continued. "I think the homosexual community has put these draconian laws on the books that prohibit people from discussing this particular affliction. You can tell somebody you had a heart attack.You can tell them they've got high blood pressure. But you can't tell anybody you've got AIDS."
"You know what they do in San Francisco. Some in the gay community there they want to get people so if they got the stuff they'll have a ring, you shake hands, and the ring's got a little thing where you cut your finger," he added."Really. It's that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder."
CBN edited out Robertson's comments in a video posted online. But Right Wing Watch posted an unedited clip of Robertson's remarks on its website.
The group announced its recipient during its eighth annual Stonewall Awards, which took place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Robertson beat out four nominees to claim this year's title: Niall Ferguson, Reverend George Gebauer, Scott Lively and Winston McKenzie.
Robertson, the host of the Christian Broadcasting Network's (CBN) 700 Club, has a long history of making anti-gay remarks.
In August, he made headlines for claiming that gay men in San Francisco deliberately spread HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, with special rings that cut others when shaking hands.
A 700 Club viewer asked whether it was wrong for her church not to inform her that she was driving to worship services a man who is "dying of AIDS." Robertson told the woman she would be fine provided she didn't "have sex with them," then added, "unless there's a cut or some bodily fluid transmission."
"There are laws now," Robertson continued. "I think the homosexual community has put these draconian laws on the books that prohibit people from discussing this particular affliction. You can tell somebody you had a heart attack.You can tell them they've got high blood pressure. But you can't tell anybody you've got AIDS."
"You know what they do in San Francisco. Some in the gay community there they want to get people so if they got the stuff they'll have a ring, you shake hands, and the ring's got a little thing where you cut your finger," he added."Really. It's that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder."
CBN edited out Robertson's comments in a video posted online. But Right Wing Watch posted an unedited clip of Robertson's remarks on its website.
Article provided in partnership with On Top Magazine
