SUPPORTERS of presidential hopeful Donald Trump have demanded rival Ted Cruz “disavow” a controversial preacher who called for the death penalty for gay people moments before sharing a stage with the Texas Senator.

Kevin Swanson, a Christian pastor known for his far-right anti-homosexual views, made the shocking comments at the National Religious Liberties Conference in November.

“Yes, Leviticus 20:13 calls for the death penalty for homosexuals,” Swanson said.

“Yes, Romans chapter one verse 32, the Apostle Paul does say that homosexuals are worthy of death. His words not mine. And I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I am not ashamed of the word of god. And I am willing to go to jail for standing on the truth of the word of god.”

Swanson, a homeschooling advocate and firebrand radio host, has argued that Christians can attend same-sex weddings only to hold up signs calling for the couple to be put to death.

He has also drawn criticism for describing the Paris terror attacks, which killed 130 people, including 89 at the Bataclan theatre, as god “sending a message”, the Right Wing Watch website reported.

Later in the conference, Swanson called Senator Cruz to the stage. “My friends, let me introduce to you the next candidate for the office of President of the United States. Folks, please make welcome Senator Ted Cruz,” he said.

Former candidates Mike Huckabee and Bobby Jindal also attended the conference and were introduced by Swanson, MSNBC reported.

The comments have only been seized on in recent days by Trump supporters after Senator Cruz and third-placed candidate Marco Rubio used the support of white supremacist David Duke to hammer the billionaire.

Last week, Trump was asked on CNN whether he rejected support from Duke and other white supremacists. “Well, just so you understand, I don’t know anything about David Duke. OK?” Trump told host Jake Tapper.

“I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists.”

Later asked by journalists how he felt about Duke’s support, he said he did not know anything about it and curtly said: “All right, I disavow, OK?”

In the lead-up to the November conference, Cruz was asked on CNN about Swanson’s well known views.

“You’ve been very outspoken about what you deem liberal intolerance of Christians, but Kevin Swanson has said some very inflammatory things about gays and lesbians,” the interviewer said.

“He believes Christians should hold up signs at gay weddings, holding up the Leviticus verse instructing the faithful to put gays to death because what they do is an abomination.

“I don’t hold you responsible for what other people are saying, but given your concern about liberal intolerance, are you not in some ways endorsing conservative intolerance?”

Cruz replied: “Listen, I don’t know what this gentleman has said and what he hasn’t said.”

In December, however, a spokesman appeared to distance the Cruz campaign from Swanson. “Senator Cruz is passionate about religious liberties,” a spokesman told USA Today.

“Many respected organisations were sponsoring [the conference], but, given these offensive comments, it was a mistake for Senator Cruz to appear at the event.”

frank.chung@news.com.au