Anti-LGBT vicar Matthew Makela resigns after being found on Grindr gay dating app
Reverend Matthew Makela had made anti-LGBT comments in the past
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A pastor who has expressed views against LGBT communities has resigned from his post, after he was found to be using a gay dating app.
Reverend Matthew Makela has stepped down from St John’s Lutheran church in Midland, Michigan, after he sent sexual messages to a man on Grindr.
He wrote in one message: “I love to make out naked. Oral and massage. And I top” and “I would love to mess around with a bicurious guy”, news website Queerty reported.
His contact on the app comes after he expressed anti-gay views under an article which argued that sexual attraction must be resisted like the temptation to steal or lie.
Revered Matthew wrote: “I love people who have same sex attraction, and so does God. The proof is in the sacrifice He made for all of us.”
The comments seen by Queerty, which have since been deleted, went on: “We don’t tell a person born with tendencies to abuse alcohol to keep on giving in to his innate desires because he can’t help it. We try to help him in his struggle.”
And as the issues which trans people face have been brought further into the fore in recent years, Reverend Matthew labelled the rights movement as “aiding opportunistic sickos in preying upon children and others”, according to posts on his Facebook page seen by the news website.
The pastor has confirmed to Queerty that the profile was genuine, and that he has stepped down from his post.
Explaining why the website decided to publicly out Reverend Makela outside of Grindr, it explained: “If Makela made even one LGBT kid at St. John’s “Christ-based” elementary school, their parents, friends, family or anyone who ever stepped foot in the church feel like being true to yourself is shameful (and it seems all too likely that he did), then we’re glad to share his hypocrisy with the world.”
Reverend Makela’s resignation comes after an anti-gay politician from North Dakota was outed by a fellow user of Grindr, after he shared photos to the local Fargo newspaper, The Advocate reported.
Randy Boehning posted the images of himself on the app, after he voted against protecting lesbian and gay North Dakotans from housing and employment discrimination.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments