SINGER COMPARES GAYS TO MUMBAI TERRORISTS

US singer Pat Boone, known for his hits in the 50s and 60s, has said that there is an “awful similarity” between the terrorists in the recent Mumbai attacks and gay protestors opposed to Proposition 8, the measure that banned same-sex marriage in California.

Boone made the comments, comparing the horrific tragedy in Mumbai – which took the lives of over 170 people – to the protests against Proposition 8 in the US in an article on the right-wing website World Net Daily.

Boone wrote, “let me ask you: Have you not seen the awful similarity between what happened in Mumbai and what’s happening right now in our cities?”

He went on to state, “What troubles me so deeply, and should trouble all thinking Americans, is that there is a real, unbroken line between the jihadist savagery in Mumbai and the hedonistic, irresponsible, blindly selfish goals and tactics of our home-grown sexual jihadists.”

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese responded to the commentary by saying: “Pat Boone wouldn’t normally warrant a second thought, even if his only claim to fame these days is his unabashed homophobia, but his disturbing commentary on this right-wing site can’t go unanswered.

“His commentary marks a new low in anti-gay rhetoric. And yet it also demonstrates the depths of hatred from these demagogues toward the LGBT community. Most Americans would be shocked to see this level of vitriol coming from someone who presented himself as America’s sweetheart.”

In addition to his musical career, Boone is also known as a conservative and anti-gay motivational speaker, political commentator, Christian activist and preacher.