A Utah State Senate candidate said on Facebook that a gay teen who committed suicide had been guilty of two sins: homosexuality and murder.
Independent American Party candidate Jason Christensen, who is running in a district that includes Provo, shared his bigoted views Wednesday on a post about a 19-year-old man’s suicide, KUTV reported. He later apologized, though he didn’t try to retract what he said.
“Yes this is sad, and hopefully God will have mercy on both sins that this boy committed. The sins of homosexuality and the sins of murder,” Christensen wrote on Facebook.
The user who posted Braxton Taylor’s obituary had said his Sept. 23 death marked “the latest known LGBTQ suicide here in Utah” in the original post. She told Christensen to “get off my thread now.”
“I hope God forgives you your judgement, ignorance and cruelty,” she wrote. “You sir are an example of all that is wrong with religion.”
Christensen responded by spouting off more of his worldview.
“Read the scriptures, stop denying the scriptures,” he wrote. “I do feel bad for him and his sins. But one must recognize what’s sins (sic) and what is not sin. One must live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and not the Gospel of the Devil.”
Many more users joined the thread to slam Christensen and express their grief at the man’s death. Christensen’s opponent, 16-year incumbent Republican Curt Bramble, shared a news story on the thread about a push by state lawmakers for a state suicide hotline.
“One of the great tragedies of our time is the loss of life of our youth,” Bramble wrote. “It is a heartbreaking tragedy to the family, friends, community and state.”
Christensen told the TV station he wants to “apologize for my tactic.” He said he commented on the post Wednesday because he has struggled with suicide.
He has lost elections in and around Provo each of the past three years, according to his campaign website. Christensen has received a deluge of emails and even death threats, alongside a few supportive messages, since he made the remarks on Facebook, he said.
“I apologize for that, and I hope with my love and asking for apology, I hope the family can accept my apology,” he told KSTU-TV.
Taylor’s loved ones held a visitation Friday in Kaysville, 20 miles north of Salt Lake City, his obituary said. His family recalled his blue eyes, his love for his siblings and parents and his collection of old typewriters and cameras.
“For those of you who want to close your eyes to these deaths, please open them and see Braxton,” the user who shared his obit said.