California imam Ahmed Radwan said at a Friday, June 28, 2024 sermon at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley that Muslims must not "stand shoulder-to-shoulder" with the LGBT community. He said that they are "very sneaky people," who employ the same "victim mentality" as the Israelis do. Radwan said that these people come to rallies for Palestine and Gaza and want to be seen among Muslims, in order to garner support for their own causes. He stated: "Do not be fooled by this tactic." Radwan also warned Muslims to keep far away from "these people," because "it is a disease and then your children are going to get it." The sermon was livestreamed on the Islamic Center's YouTube channel.
Ahmed Radwan: "We cannot be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with [The LGBTQ Community]. They are very, very sneaky people.
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"For example, if we have a rally... and they have showed up at rallies when we are standing beside Palestine and Gaza. They come closer to us, they want to be seen among us. [They say] 'We are supporting you, we stand with you against Israel, so stand with us also when we need your help.' Do not be fooled by this tactic. You need to let them understand: 'Stay away from us. You do not belong to us and we do not belong to you.' Have a wall between you and them, because they are going to be expecting the same thing. No 'shoulder-to-shoulder,' my dear brothers and sisters.
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"The month of June, my dear brothers and sisters, it means a lot to this group, the LGBT+. You are surrounded with their mark and with their colors, everywhere they can.
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"They impose this on our children in the schools.
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"I have even seen the Chevrolet manufacturers supporting this awful and evil act. McDonald's is doing the same thing. And unfortunately, Nordstrom... I was buying some clothing and on my way out, I saw in Nordstrom, they have their flag, supporting the evil act of these people.
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"The President of the United States is supporting this, Vice President [Kamala Harris], she is supporting this.
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"We need to stay as we can and to make sure that our children do not associate with them, because it is a disease and then your children are going to get it.
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"And then these people act like they are the oppressed or the victim. This reminds me of what is happening in Palestine, in Israel... they [the Israelis] are showing like they are the victim, the oppressed one. They are using the same mentality."