Patrica Crollett shouts at passing drivers during a protest outside Legacy Church. She was among 35 activists with Get Equal New Mexico and other gay-activist groups. (Jim Thompson/Journal)
Online comments by an Albuquerque pastor critical of Gov. Susana Martinez’s decision to name a gay man to a state commission prompted protestors to line the sidewalk in front of Legacy Church on Sunday in support of gay rights.
The Rev. Steve Smothermon, pastor of the 20,000-member Legacy Church, drew cheers and applause from his congregation by saying he would not apologize for insisting on “our right to hold a biblical world view.”
Smothermon also made reference at his 9 a.m. service to his earlier criticism of Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry over a variety of issues.
“Just like the mayor, if you campaign as a conservative, and you say you will govern as a conservative, I have an expectation when you say to me that you will do what you said, and hire and appoint people that are conservatives,” he told his congregation.
“I’m just a pastor of a church in this state that believes that people ought to keep their word,” he said.
Smothermon made the comments shortly before about 35 protesters gathered outside the front gate of Legacy Church’s sprawling West Side campus.
The protest was a response to comments Smothermon made to a blogger last week critical of Martinez’s appointment of Doug Howe, an openly gay man, to the state’s Public Regulation Commission.
Jesse Lopez of Get Equal New Mexico told protestors that the hard line some pastors take toward homosexuality can drive young people to depression and suicide.
“Pastors use the Bible to belittle members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community,” Lopez told protesters over a megaphone. “We have lost many people to suicide, to drugs, because of what churches have told us.”
Smothermon advised church members to ignore protesters as they exited the church parking that morning. Protesters marched to the church about 11:30 a.m. and departed 40 minutes later without incident.
Smothermon angered gay advocates with comments he made recently to blogger Heath Haussamen, as reported in his blog, nmpolitics.net.
Martinez’s appointment of Howe, a gay man, to the PRC violated her earlier pledges that she supports a socially conservative agenda, Smotherman alleged.
“With a governor who looked me in the eye personally and said she’s socially conservative, she believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, who said she wouldn’t espouse the homosexual agenda, I think this goes against that,” Smothermon told Haussamen. “… These aren’t the people we voted for you to appoint. We voted for you to appoint people who think like we do.”
Howe, a former utility executive and college professor with experience in regulatory issues, was not asked about his sexual orientation but volunteered that he is gay during the selection process.
A spokesman for Martinez said last week that Howe was chosen because he was the most qualified of about 90 applicants considered for the job.
Last year, Smothermon criticized Berry for signing a proclamation of support for the city’s annual gay pride parade. Berry also told the Journal that Smothermon objected to gay people who work for the city and the Mayor’s Office.
Smothermon responded that he had not discussed the sexual orientation of city employees with Berry. Instead, the pastor said he was disappointed that Berry had not hired more conservatives in his administration.
In his remarks Sunday, Smothermon said that church leaders have a right to speak out about issues they consider important.
“That’s why we cannot be silent,” he said. “This country was founded on freedom of religion. We are not targeting anyone, but we do believe in our right to hold a biblical world view.”
— This article appeared on page D1 of the Albuquerque Journal
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