A gay church minister from Llandysul has received huge public support for openly defying the internet trolls who urged him to kill himself.

Rev Wyn Thomas said it was vital people stood up to cyber abuse after being targeted for commenting on an anti same-sex marriage discussion.

“Today, my right to minister has been publicly questioned, my wonderful congregations have been publicly called a ‘sodomites’ church’ and in no fewer than 14 private messages I have been told that there’s ‘a special firepit in hell’ for my kind,” he posted.

“While any haters and bigots are perfectly entitled to hold your personal opinions, know two things: 1) You do not have monopoly over the all-loving, all-benevolent God who called me into service and 2) I will never be ashamed of love and will never, ever hide.”

Rev Thomas said it was the first time he had received such abuse and felt obliged to speak out.

But he stressed to the Cambrian News that the messages did not come from local people, adding: “We’ve had nothing but love and support from the congregations I serve here.”

Speaking on Radio Cymru’s Taro’r Post programme, he said: “Although I am a minister in a fairly conservative area, everybody has been very supportive to me personally.”

He added that he had challenged the trolls because feeling down or depressed was "something many gay young people feel when growing up" and abusive messages could amplify that feeling.

“I don’t want to give them the attention they seek, but on the other hand it’s vital that young people in Wales and beyond realise that it’s a minority of people that hate not just LGBT people but anyone who is different,” he added.

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