Airport PA system plays anti-gay Bible verse
Created: 5/4/2007 7:47:14 AM
Updated:5/4/2007 8:00:43 AM
DANIA BEACH, Florida -- A gay couple is asking for an investigation after they claim they heard threatening comments announced over the intercom system at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
The couple of six years said they were in the baggage claim area Tuesday when the announcement was made. "My partner said, 'Did you hear that?' and I said, 'I kind of think I did,'" said Anthony Niedwiecki. "Then about two minutes later we heard it again. 'A man who lies with a man as if he were lying with a woman shall be subject to death.'" "It was almost so threatening that I was frightened," said Waymon Hudson, Niedwiecki's partner. The passage is found in the Bible. According to the New International Version, Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death.""I understand that it is a Bible verse, but there should be no reason why a Bible verse should be coming over the PA system of a public entity," Niedwiecki said. Niedwiecki said he filed a report with the security manager at the airport, and in an e-mail, he advised a Broward County commissioner of the situation. Airport officials said there are numerous paging systems throughout the terminals that are reserved for employee use only. They said at that time of the morning, anyone could have gotten their hands on the system. "So far we don't think we can identify the location but that's what we're trying to do," said airport representative Steve Belleme. The couple said that someone should be held accountable. "Some whose younger, just coming out, or even some whose coming to our city for the first time -- if that's the first impression they get it's sad," Hudson said.
The couple of six years said they were in the baggage claim area Tuesday when the announcement was made. "My partner said, 'Did you hear that?' and I said, 'I kind of think I did,'" said Anthony Niedwiecki. "Then about two minutes later we heard it again. 'A man who lies with a man as if he were lying with a woman shall be subject to death.'" "It was almost so threatening that I was frightened," said Waymon Hudson, Niedwiecki's partner. The passage is found in the Bible. According to the New International Version, Leviticus 20:13 says, "If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death.""I understand that it is a Bible verse, but there should be no reason why a Bible verse should be coming over the PA system of a public entity," Niedwiecki said. Niedwiecki said he filed a report with the security manager at the airport, and in an e-mail, he advised a Broward County commissioner of the situation. Airport officials said there are numerous paging systems throughout the terminals that are reserved for employee use only. They said at that time of the morning, anyone could have gotten their hands on the system. "So far we don't think we can identify the location but that's what we're trying to do," said airport representative Steve Belleme. The couple said that someone should be held accountable. "Some whose younger, just coming out, or even some whose coming to our city for the first time -- if that's the first impression they get it's sad," Hudson said.
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