LA area shopping mall The Grove bans Manny Pacquiao for comments on same-sex marriage

photo via Yahoo

President Barak Obama supports it, rapper and minority Nets owner Jay-Z does too. But boxer Manny Pacquiao is not on board with same-sex marriages. During a recent interview with the Examiner, Pacquiao made a few eyebrow raising comments.

“God’s words first … obey God’s law first before considering the laws of man.”

“God only expects man and woman to be together and to be legally married, only if they so are in love with each other. It should not be of the same sex so as to adulterate the altar of matrimony, like in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah of Old.”

Pacquiao is also a Congressman from Sarangani Province in the Philippines. So I suppose him weighing in on presidential politics isn’t a far stretch. His commentary is already issuing a negative affect around LA. Popular outdoor Shopping area The Grove, has banned Pacquiao from the premises based on his thoughts. An interview was schedule to take place today (Wed., May 16)  there between Pac and Extra reporter, Mario Lopez.

“Based on news reports of statements made by Mr. Pacquiao we have made it be known that he is not welcome at The Grove and will not be interviewed here now or in the future. The Grove is a gathering place for all Angelenos and not a place for intolerance.”

Pac has a fight on June 9th in Vegas. I guess we’ll see if his comments have any impact in the boxing world.

** UPDATE ** On Wednesday, Pacquiao attempted to clarify his controversial comments, stating that he is not against homosexuality, just same-sex marriage. “I’m not against gay people,” Pacquiao said. “I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way. What I’m critical of are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same-sex marriage is against the law of God.”