Washington, D.C. — A prominent evangelist who was asked to speak at a National Day of Prayer gathering today in Washington, D.C. has refused to pull out of the event despite calls for him to do so by homosexual activists.

Greg Laurie of the Harvest Crusades and Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California is this year’s honorary chairman of the National Day of Prayer, and is scheduled to lead America in prayer today at an event in the nation’s capital.

However, because Laurie believes homosexual behavior is against the word of God, homosexual activists have called for his removal from the program. Yesterday, at an event held by Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council, Laurie advised those gathered that he was not going to cave to demands to withdraw.

“I won’t back down,” he declared. “They do not want me to pray. They describe me as ‘homophobic’ and so forth. How can you deal with such a situation? We’re in a time in our country now where I’m attacked because I believe what the Bible teaches.”

“If people want to make it all about [homosexuality], I’m not going to back down,” Laurie added. “In the immortal words of the great theologian Tom Petty, ‘I won’t back down,’ I won’t. I’m not going to apologize.”

He compared the homosexual activists who were calling for his removal from the event to those who sought to punish Daniel for praying to the Lord and convinced the king to pass a law that resulted in having him thrown into the lion’s den.

“Here is something that we need to learn from that,” he advised. “The Devil does not want us to pray. It’s been said that Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.”

According to reports, Sharon Groves of the Faith and Religion division of the Human Rights Council was one of those who opposed Laurie’s appearance.

“Pastor Laurie’s message is out of step with what the majority of people of faith across this country believe,” she said. “In greater numbers than ever before, people of faith are feeling compelled to speak up and organize for equality – because of their faith.”

Laurie participated in a prayer breakfast this morning, and is expected to also speak at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill with James and Shirley Dobson, Congressman Robert Aderholt, Pat Boone, Congressman Frank Wolf and others.

As previously reported, earlier this year, homosexual activists and supporters also sought to have Pastor Louie Giglio of Passion City Church in Roswell, Georgia ousted from the inauguration of  Barack Obama due to a sermon that he preached over a decade ago outlining that the Bible prohibits homosexual behavior. Giglio later decided to withdraw his invitation, stating that he feared his appearance would turn the occasion into an argument over homosexuality.

“Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration,” he wrote. “Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”

“Neither I, nor our team, feel it best serves the core message and goals we are seeking to accomplish to be in a fight on an issue not of our choosing,” Giglio continued. “[T]hus, I respectfully withdraw my acceptance of the President’s invitation.”

Events all across the nation are scheduled for today in honor of the National Day of Prayer, many of which will begin at noon.

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