A Chicago minister drew fire in social media after video circulated online showing him demanding that a gay individual leave services for wearing clothing he deemed inappropriate for his gender.
Pastor Antonio Rocquemore of Power House International Ministries, 7040 S. Western Ave., was filmed in a Nov. 11 video noticing an audience member whom he then asked to step into the aisle. The incident was first reported Nov. 13 in an Evangelical publication, the Christian Post.
"Can you leave my church and go put on a man's clothes?" Rocquemore asked. "And don't come around here like that [any] more."
Someone in the audience then added, "Thank you, Jesus."
Rocquemore continued, "I have a standard in here. Whatever you do on the outside is your business, but I will not drag queens come in here."
Chicagoan Christian James Lhuillier called attention to the exchange on Facebook, writing that, "In a place that is supposed to be a place of change, a place of deliverance— whatever you want to call it—why would you destroy someone in front of a room full of people? This is the kind of bullshit that causes people to go home and commit suicide."
Rocquemore posted a Facebook video the following day responding to the criticism. He said that the parishioner had come to the church seeking guidance on how to be a "man," and as such he told them in private that, "You cannot dress like a female coming to church. If that's what you choose to do outside the church, I just pray for you."
Rocquemore maintained in the video that the parishioner had agreed not to wear female clothing, and emphasized that they were not removed for being gay.
A protest is scheduled Sunday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
Christian Post's article is at www.christianpost.com/news/pastor-under-fire-booting-male-member-dressed-like-woman-church-service-228505/ .
