People in the News for June 10, 1998

Wednesday, June 10, 1998 | 10:03 a.m.

This isn't a message of hate or anything, but if you're gay, God is going to kill you. So suggests religious guy Pat Robertson, warning Orlando. Fla., that by hosting last weekend's Gay Days, it's inviting the wrath of The Big Guy, who will come on like some Old Testament Weather Channel as programmed by Irwin Allen: Homosexuality "will bring about terrorist bombs, it'll bring earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor," Robertson said this week. And while terrorist bombs, earthquakes, tornados and meteors may sound like just another good weekend at the cineplex, Robertson is darn serious. "I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious hurricanes, and I don't think I'd be waving those (Gay Days street pennants) in God's face if I were you." Poor Orlando; first it loses Shaq, now this. Robertson, being a fine Christian, naturally means all this death and destruction talk in the nicest way possible. It "is not a message of hate," he said. "This is a message of redemption." "I feel sorry for him, I really do," said one gay rights spokesman. "If he's worried about a hurricane, he should worry first about his own roof." Memo to gay rights activists: Why not test Robertson's theory by surrounding his headquarters, wait until a meteor comes, then run!

Briefly

If you cross Michael Jordan in Chicago, who knows what will befall you -- earthquakes, tornados, possibly a meteor. Therefore, rocker John Fogarty has postponed a concert scheduled for Friday in the Windy City's New World Theater so as not to conflict with Game 5 of the NBA Finals, to be played in Chicago. "Out of respect to the team, the fans, the employees of the World Theater, and Michael Jordan, the show has been postponed to July 26," announced Fogarty, who knows when he's in the way of a serious hurricane. His wasn't a message of hate, however, it was a message of redemption, of hope: "It gives the band and me a chance to catch the game, too."

Compiled by Scott Dickensheets