GenQ - For the not so straight individual

Cecil Howard Sinclair had sadly passed away on Monday at the age of forty-six due to an infection after receiving surgery. Mr Sinclair’s memorial service was scheduled to be held at the High Point Church in Texas, United States on Thursday. However with just twenty-four hours notice, the church cancelled the service due to Mr Sinclair’s homosexuality.

When speaking to the Associated Press, Kathleen Wright, Mr Sinclair’s sister, said that church was aware of her brother’s sexuality, “But when the obituary came out in the paper and listed his life partner as one of the survivors, I truly believe the big-pocket parishioners called the church and said, 'Why are you having a funeral for a gay person?'

“It's a slap in the face. It's like, `Oh, we're sorry he died, but he's gay so we can't help you.�

When responding to the comments made by Ms Wright, Reverend Gary Simons said that no one in the church was aware of Mr Sinclair’s homosexuality until the day prior to the service taking place, when staff creating tribute footage saw images of “engaging in clear affection, kissing and embracing� between men.

“We did decline to host the service — not based on hatred, not based on discrimination, but based on principle�. “Had we known it on the day they first spoke about it — yes, we would have declined then. It's not that we didn't love the family.�

Ms Wright said that the comments made about the pictures by Rev. Simons were a “bold-faced lie�, stating that a number of pictures had been provided to the church, including some with Mr Sinclair and his partner, but none of the pictures showed men hugging or kissing.

GenQ offers their condolences to Mr Sinclair’s loved ones.