Church halts funeral service over lesbian kiss.

A lesbian woman’s funeral was cancelled minutes before it was due to take place because the pastor objected to her sexuality.

Vanessa Collier’s family wanted to show a video that included a kiss between Collier and her wife,

but pastor Ray Chavez, from New Hope Ministries, showing the compassion of a spade, objected.

Jose Silver, one of her friends, told ABC 7: ‘I am a child of a lesbian mother and if my mom was to die, I would want dignity in her death.

‘I am against bigotry and stand with my friend Vanessa Collier’s family in seeking an apology and refund from Pastor Ray Chavez and New Hope Ministries. The acts that took place at her funeral were wrong and no family should ever have to go through that.’

Gary Rolando, a pastor at the ministry, said: ‘We don’t want overt, open homosexuality in our sanctuary. As a result it was a very difficult day.’

He added that it caused a logistical nightmare but claimed it was ‘handled as professionally as I’ve ever seen’.

Vanessa’s body was taken to another funeral home where a service took place.