Depending on who you follow on Facebook, you might have seen a post shared about a man kidnapped and robbed in Macon, Georgia. Th...
Depending on who you follow on Facebook, you might have seen a post shared about a man kidnapped and robbed in Macon, Georgia.
The rumors stated that Christopher Keys was kidnapped by two black men, taken to a hotel and robbed of his money, keys and cell phone.
However, the real story is more complicated than that.
Because of this rumor, local news station 13 WMAZ did an investigation into the situation.
Verify: Facebook post about carjacking at north Macon CVS not real https://t.co/xGcG5l0Q1m— 13WMAZ News (@13wmaznews) May 21, 2020
Married youth pastor fabricated story about being kidnapped to cover up soliciting male prostitute: police - https://t.co/FEN4LU2UYV— Clay #STAYSatHOME! (@Mooncatadams) May 22, 2020
911, I've been kidnapped, driven to hotel, and robbed at gunpoint. Also, this definitely isn't a hoax to hide going to a hotel to bang a male prostitute. Yes, I'm a pastor. Why do you ask? https://t.co/N10f6HBsVZ— dimplasm (@dimplasm) May 22, 2020
His story, though, is not what actually happened.
Yes, Keys was robbed and yes, he surprisingly recovered his phone from a Walmart parking lot. However, he did not end up at the motel because he was kidnapped.
Instead, he was there soliciting sex from a Craigslist ad.
Keys told deputies he was just going to lie to his friends and family and state he was kidnapped. From there, the rumor spread.
When 13 WMAZ heard of this rumor, the idea that they missed a police report for a kidnapping worried them, so they looked into the case. The statement that emergency services didn't answer was concerning as well.
Once the truth came out, deputies charged Keys with "solicitation of sodomy" which is how Keys was outed.
Always blame Black Folk seems to be the habit of these regressive Christian hypocrites and liars. They don't usually get hurt but Black and Gay folks do.— Jackson Steele (@askboomer1949) May 25, 2020
RT
Youth pastor claims he was kidnapped by black men to avoid admitting why he was in a hotel room https://t.co/dbRQbACy1x
Closeted man called the police after being robbed by a male sex worker. They charged him with 'soliciting sodomy' and publicly outed him https://t.co/Zr7TLefXGb— PinkNews (@PinkNews) May 25, 2020
Damn shame that in the 21st century some men are still so afraid of being labeled gay or bisexual they will create elaborate and highly disprovable lies to cover their feelings. https://t.co/gBjrIwa4wJ via @13WMAZNEWS— WriterMarkWooden (@Shadowdancesaga) May 22, 2020
Oh, I see. Another crime in defense of maintaining the norms of white straight cis masculinity, because admitting you're gay/bi is somehow more terrible than perpetuating violent racism. https://t.co/XxV6uTx0SF— Dr. Aphra Behn (@Shaker_aphra) May 26, 2020
Despite the use of the term "sodomy" in the charge, you cannot be charged with a crime based on it. However, offering to pay for sex, or solicitation, is still illegal in much of the United States.
There is also an issue with the fact that this story outed Keys' sexuality. Some see this as just a horrible side effect of the truth of the story.
Hypocrisy and lying Christians notwithstanding, the buried lede here is that in 2020 you can still be charged with soliciting sodomy as a crime in the state of Georgia.— ThirtyBirdy™ (@10Plus20Birdy) May 22, 2020
It would be better if they'd just tough it out & embrace who they really are instead of living a lie in my opinion.— Jay Force (@Jayforce) May 22, 2020
Keys has since been let go from working as a youth pastor for the Wesleyan Drive Baptist Church. The sheriff's department is still investigating the robbery as well, though without a focus on kidnapping.
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