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California Lawmaker's Aide Under Fire Over Profanity-Laced Voicemail Left For Inglewood Pastor

INGLEWOOD (CBSLA.com) — An Inglewood pastor got an earful when he listened to one of  his phone messages that was filled with profanity, blasting him for his opposition to a bill affecting LGBT rights.

Part of the voicemail said: "I don't know how you call yourself a pastor after you write this ridiculously hateful letter. And you have the nerve to cite history? You are just either stupid, ignorant or evil."

Joey Hill, the chief of staff for Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer, left the message that went on to say: "Read your bible over again man and find some love in your (expletive) Heart, you (expletive) (expletive)."

The message was left for Pastor Marc Little at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood. He said he initially was shocked and appalled.

The voicemail was in response to Little's letter to lawmakers earlier this month opposing Senate Bill 1146.

Before the bill was amended last week, it would have made it harder to sue Christian colleges and universities for discrimination against LGBT students.

Assemblyman Jones-Sawyer said he is disappointed in his chief of staff.

"I've already reprimanded my employee and will have some other counseling involved with that. Never going to excuse that language. So let's get that clear," the lawmaker said.

Hill said he wished he could take it back. "It was emotional, heated and somewhat political. My temper got out of hand, and I regret it."

He apologized to pastor Little, who accepted his apology.

But now, a change.org petition is demanding Hill's resignation.

On the other side, members of the LGBT community said it is more hurt by the pastor's letter.

"What worries me more is when young folk see these hurtful statements by religious leaders condemning folks within the LGBT community and making very clear that there's no space at their educational, religious institutions," said the board president of the Sacramento LGBT Center.

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