(CNN) – Boxer Manny Pacquiao is under fire, after some comments he made about gay marriage got him banned from The Grove in Los Angeles.
In an interview with National Conservative Examiner, Pacquiao addressed President Obama’s recent endorsement of gay marriage.
“God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man,” Pacquiao told the Examiner.
“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married,” the boxer is also quoted as saying.
“It should not be of the same sex, so as to adulterate the alter of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah.”
The article goes on to say that, “Pacquiao’s directive for Obama calls societies to fear God and not to promote sin, inclusive of same-sex marriage and cohabitation.”
It quotes Leviticus 20:13, which states, “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
But now Pacquiao is hitting back in a post on his official Web site writing, “I didn’t say that, that’s a lie? I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet.”
“I’m not against gay people? I have a relative who is also gay,” the boxer also insists.
“We can’t help it if they were born that way. What I’m critical off are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same-sex marriage is against the law of God.”
But Pacquiao’s views on gay marriage have landed him in some hot water with The Grove, which is owned by Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso.
Last week, The Grove posted a statement to its Twitter account saying that Pacquiao is not allowed on the premises.
The Tweet read, “Boxer Manny Pacquiao is not welcome at @TheGroveLA. @TheGroveLA is a gathering place for all Angelenos, not a place for intolerance.”
