Publishers Sued
Over Antigay Bible Passages

Some editions of the Bible from the 1980s published by Zondervan Publishing and Thomas Nelson Publishing assert that homosexuality is a sin, causing one gay man to sue the publishing houses for emotional damage.

The allegations against the publishers, brought by Bradley LaShawn Fowler of Canton, Mich., could result in $70 million in damages if Fowler wins his case. Fowler is representing himself in federal court against both publishers after a U.S. district judge refused to appoint him an attorney in his case against Thomas Nelson. The judge explained, "The court has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims."

According to the Chicago Tribune, the suit against Zondervan claims 1982 and 1987 editions of the publisher's Bible explicitly declare homosexuality to be wrong in 1 Corinthians 6:9: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders." Fowler claims that the word "homosexual" was edited out of the 1989 and 1994 editions but that consumers were not informed, and that because his family pastor uses the older versions, he's been shunned by his family as a result.

Fowler levels similar claims against Thomas Nelson regarding its earlier versions of the New King James Bible, saying he has suffered extreme emotional and sometimes physical discomfort as a result of the antigay passages in the Bible. He wrote that it was the intention of the publishers to cause "me or anyone who is a homosexual to endure verbal abuse, discrimination, episodes of hate, and physical violence...including murder." (The Advocate)