Tossed Out of Botswana, 'Kill the Gays' Pastor Not Welcome in Malawi

Pastor Steven Anderson, the repugnantly anti-LGBT Tempe, Arizona "Kill the Gays" minister who praised the Orlando massacre, has one less place in Africa willing to import his message of hate. The government of Malawi has joined South Africa and Botswana in saying that Anderson's Faithful Word Baptist Church is not welcome on their soil.

After being denied entry into South Africa and having their Botswana branch thrown out of the southern African nation, Anderson and his Faithful Word Ministry thought that the third time might be a charm with Malawi.

On paper, Malawi looked like a safe bet for Anderson's "kill the gays" message. The country has laws on the books criminalizing homosexuality with heavy prison sentences.

But as Mamba Online reports, the status of LGBTI people in Malawi is mired in confusion. In December last year, Justice Minister Samuel Tembenu announced a moratorium on the arrest of Malawians for having gay sex, which carries a penalty of 14 years in prison.

According to Malawi News Now, Malison Ndau, Malawi's government spokesperson stated that Anderson's intention to set up his hate church in the country "would not argue well for the people of Malawi" and that the country's people "would not accept it."

"He would would not be received well here," Ndau said.

Still, Anderson remains confident in his ability to spread his message of hate in Africa.

"There are many other African countries that are not as tolerant of homosexuality, where I feel I would be welcomed," Anderson according to Malawi 24.

Anderson came to national attention in 2009 when he told his congregation that he was praying for the death of President Barrack Obama. He went on to grab headlines in June 2016 following the mass shootings at gay club Pulse in Orlando when he said "that there were 50 less pedophiles in the world." He has repeatedly called for the death penalty for homosexuals.