Baptists for Gay Marriage: Just Kidding!

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

June 28 2011 8:45 PM EST

Nbroverman

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

In an elaborate hoax, an unidentified group created a fake press release and website that declared the Southern Baptist Convention now supports marriage equality.

The press release went out to a number of journalists and announced that the Southern Baptist leadership met in an emergency session, affirmed gay rights, repented for "any past homophobia that not only hurt gay people but kept them ostracized from the church," and directed people to a fake website that included working phone numbers.

"It is definitely a hoax," Roger Oldham, vice president for communication for the Southern Baptists' emergency committee, told Fox News. Oldham said church officials are looking into pressing charges against the perpetrators -- if they can find them.