The Rev. Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertsonan influential and controversial voice of conservative Christianity who even ran for president in 1988has died at age 93.
The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) initially announced his death, Politico noted.
The son of a U.S. senator, Robertson initially made his name in broadcasting as the host of the CBN's The 700 Club. He often invoked religion to make anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, and could make bizarre claims, like when he claimed to have prayed Hurricane Gloria away from his Virginia Beach headquarters in September 1985.
He often talked about divine retribution against the LGBTQ+ community. In 1998, Robertson warned Disney World and the city of Orlando, Florida, that flying rainbow flags could lead to "earthquakes, tornadoes and possibly a meteor."
Robertson also blamed Gay Days for the state's massive wildfires in 1998, per Slate. In addition, he had claimed that allowing out LGBTQ+ scouts into the Boy Scouts of America would expose scouts to "predators" and "pedophiles," and argued that the Equality Act would be as devastating to America as "atomic war," according to Metro Weekly.
Robertsonwho also founded entities such as Regent University and the Christian Coalitionhosted The 700 Club until late 2021. Interestingly, The 700 Club still airs on ABC Family's Freeform channel, which Disney owns.
Andrew Davis