Jax and Brittany’s pastor says he won’t officiate wedding after anti-LGBTQ comments

Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright‘s wedding pastor, Ryan Dotson, will not be officiating the “Vanderpump Rules” stars’ wedding, he exclusively told Page Six.

After Taylor, 39, and Cartwright, 30, attended LA Pride over the weekend, anti-LGBTQ comments made by Dotson in 2015 were shared on Twitter, causing an uproar amongst fans.

“I want [Brittany] to have the very best day she possibly can,” Dotson told us Friday, adding that the couple asked him on Wednesday afternoon to no longer participate in their nuptials. “They asked me to be a guest, but I probably won’t. I’m too much of a distraction.”

Dotson also responded to the criticism over his anti-LGBTQ remarks in an exclusive statement to Page Six.

“I am neither Transphobic nor homophobic,” he said. “I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am.”





Dotson said he believes he is entitled to his Christian values “as an American,” adding that “although, I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I love the homosexual.”

The Kentucky pastor said he employs gay people and has “never discriminated against anyone because of their sexuality.”

“To be honest, many of my homosexual employees have been some of my greatest employees,” he added.

Dotson told us he is “deeply saddened” that Taylor and Cartwright’s wedding has been “marred by those with an agenda.” He said he also feels he has been “bullied.”

On Wednesday, a Twitter user captioned a screenshot of Dotson’s anti-LGBT remarks, “I’m confused as to why @mrjaxtaylor or @BNCartwright would participate in the LA #Pride parade if they have a homophobic bigot marrying them later this month? It’s revolting and shameful to give this spigot of hate a platform.”





Cartwright, 30, responded, “We already took care of this so I would appreciate it if people would quit trying to spread rumors like we don’t care and aren’t supporters when you guys have no clue how we feel or the fact that we have already changed. I’m focused on marrying the man I love. Nothing else.”

On Thursday, Taylor, 39, reiterated that he and his soon-to-be wife “took care of it a while ago,” implying that Dotson will no longer be officiating their wedding.

But during a January appearance on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen,” the reality star sounded like she was keeping Dotson as their officiant.

“I’m a huge supporter and always will be of the LGBTQ community, and no matter what, I would never try to ever make anybody feel uncomfortable,” she said. “I talked to him myself and he promised me that he was not that way, that he was not saying anything about the community whatsoever.”





Cartwright added that she’s known Dotson “for years” and “if it was anything that I felt otherwise, I would never choose somebody like that.”

In April, Dotson shared a photo of his wife beside Cartwright’s mom, Sherri Cartwright, at the bride’s wedding shower. The reality star also still follows him on Instagram.

Taylor and Cartwright’s rep did not comment, and Bravo did not respond to requests for comment.

LGBTQ activist and “Vanderpump Rules” boss Lisa Vanderpump issued a response to the criticism through her rep after fans questioned whether she would still be attending Taylor and Cartwright’s wedding.

“Of course everyone knows my feelings for the love and unwavering support for the LGBTQ community,” she told Buzzfeed. “I’ve contacted Jax and Brittany who are extremely disappointed as to the depth and seriousness of these comments by the minister and are very shocked and feel that obviously major alterations will have to be made in their ceremonial plans. They are dealing with this today. This attitude is totally not acceptable to them and changes are forthcoming.”





Ryan Dotson’s full statement:

In response to the media attack on my character and Christian beliefs, I would first like to state that I am neither Transphobic nor Homophobic as publicized. I as a Christian, love and respect, all human life, regardless of race, religion, nationality and sexuality, but as a Christian and a Pastor, I must stand firmly on the Bible and its teachings, as to how we should live before God. I know not all people are accepting of this belief or religious point of view, but I am. As an American I am entitled to my Christian values, as everyone else is theirs’s, and for that I have been falsely attacked and ridiculed nationally. Although, I do not agree with the homosexual lifestyle, I love the homosexual. I have leased one of my home rentals to a homosexual man; I have homosexuals working in all of my businesses. I have never discriminated against anyone because of their sexuality. To be honest many of my homosexual employees have been some of my greatest employees. When it comes to the wedding of Jax & Brittany, in December they requested over lunch if I would do them the honor of marrying them, because they wanted a “Christian wedding,” of course 1 said yes, seeing that I’ve been the family’s Pastor for the last several years. Jax & Brittany are a beautiful couple and I wish nothing but love and happiness. I am deeply saddened that their wedding is being marred by those with an agenda. My religious views have nothing to do with the fact of whether or not I was capable of performing the wedding. I’m not sure what everyone was thinking, but in Kentucky, which is a part of the Bible belt, most pastors feel the very same as I do, which should be of no surprise to anyone. As of late Wednesday evening I had received an overwhelming amount of messages of HATE from the LGBT Community. They have used their platforms in multiple media outlets to slander my name and defame my character. I truly understand now what it means to be bullied. For those who speak love and tolerance, really demonstrated hate and intolerance towards me. I ask for no sympathy because I firmly stand on what I believe is just and right, and if I am hated for it, I’ll wear that badge with honor.





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