ICC Wales cancels appearance of American preacher Franklin Graham who called homosexuality 'a sin'

Franklin Graham was booked to speak at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport but the event has since been cancelled

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Part Welsh-Government funded ICC Wales has come under fire over an event featuring a controversial US evangelist.

Franklin Graham, the eldest son of American preacher Billy Graham, has spoken widely of his view that homosexuality is a “sin” and was booked to speak at the International Convention Centre Wales, Newport, in June.

Jayne Bryant, Assembly Member for Newport West, said Graham has "a long record of preaching hate, prejudice and intolerance" and called for the event to cancelled.

Following her concerns and those raised by LGBTQ+ charity Pride Cymru, ICC Wales said it has taken the decision to cancel the booking.

Several venues on Graham's eight-date tour of the UK had already cancelled bookings following pressure from LGBTQ+ groups and local politicians.

Sheffield City Trust announced on Wednesday that it had cancelled a booking at Sheffield Arena after ACC Liverpool had already cancelled an event saying Graham's views were incompatible with its values.

ICC Wales opened its doors in Newport last year(Image: Richard Williams/WalesOnline)

According to Franklin Graham's website, his free event was due come to ICC Wales on June 14, where "the truth of Jesus Christ will be preached amongst a nation searching for answers".

Franklin Graham has previously labelled homosexuality and gay marriage "a sin".

In April 2019, tweeting about Christian US politician Pete Buttigieg, Graham said: "I believe the Bible which defines homosexuality as a sin, something to be repentant of".

In a 2014 interview, he compared same-sex adoption to "recruitment" and in 2016, while discussing LGBT+ influence on education, claimed the US was experiencing a "moral implosion" which he compared to the Twin Towers falling on 9/11.