Criticizing what he deemed the immorality of Hollywood during his June 25 televised sermon, Jerry Falwell, founder and chairman of the Moral Majority Coalition, declared, “You know, you almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore.” Falwell also described "[m]ovie stars" as “moral pervert[s]” for “having babies” out of wedlock.

From Falwell's June 25 sermon at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, where he serves as senior pastor:

FALWELL: Illicit sex today. Today the world has gone sex crazy. Illicit sex has become the downfall of many in the Bible. Movie stars not married to each other, having babies and making headlines all over the world as though they were doing some great thing. Big deal! Just another moral pervert. And for them to become heroes for our kids. My wife and I will be married 49 years the next anniversary.

[...]

And don't, don't ever be proud of sin. You know, you almost got to be a homosexual to be recognized in the entertainment industry anymore. Ellen [Degeneres], and all the rest. I love them, pray for their souls, but they're immoral. And the Hollywood scene -- five and eight and 10 marriages -- not something to be emulated.

Emily Rapoport is an intern at Media Matters for America.