[reece(:]

Theresa May has been criticised for "worshipping" with a clergyman who has a history of anti-LGBT campaigning.

The Prime Minister met with members of the Jesus House Church, which she described as “one of the most lively growing churches in the UK” over the weekend.

Her official Twitter account showed her meeting members of the congregation. Ms May also met with Pastor Agu Irukwu, who campaigned against the Equality Act and the legalisation of gay marriage.

She participated in a Q&A session with Mr Irukwu, who became a senior pastor in 1994, and Jesus House said she took part in worship.

LGBT activists expressed shock at the Prime Minister’s visit, made just ten days before the general election.

"Theresa May's decision to visit pastor Agu Irukwu and Jesus House is an insult to the whole LGBT community but especially to black LBGT people," said veteran LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

"The pastor has a long history opposing LGBT equality, including opposition to same-sex civil marriage and to laws protecting LGBT people against discrimination.

"His church has been involved in exorcisms of gay people in the belief that they are possessed by demons. It's parent church in Nigeria backed the draconian anti-laws passed in 2014, which are some of the harshest in the world. Jesus House preaches against the human rights of LGBT people in the UK and Africa.

"These teachings fuel prejudice. They contribute to self-hatred and mental ill-health in black African LGBT communities."

He added: “The Prime Minister is wrong to fete and appease homophobic Christian extremists."

Dr Christian Jessen, a television presenter, said: “Oh dear. Jesus House is a bastion of ugly homophobia, run by Agu Irukeu who strongly opposes homosexual equality.

“Bad move by the Tories.”

Jesus House, which was founded in Nigeria and in the UK mainly caters to a black British congregation in Brent, west London, has defended itself from what it claimed were “misinformed comments”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...-a7763996.html

Tragic!