22/10/2025
Another rabid conservative fundamentalist Christian preacher, who attacked the innocent and loving gay romance novels Heartstopper, has been exposed as a real and present danger to children, according to a report on top gay newswire Pink News. The newswire states that Silas Shelton, 48, the pastor of Blanchester Community Church, in Clinton County, was arrested last week on four felony charges: rape, sexual battery, unlawful sexual contact with a minor and gross sexual imposition, a spokesperson for Wilmington police said. No other information would be released out of “respect for the privacy and the safety of the victim and family”, they added. However, The US based gay magazine the Advocate reported that the alleged offences are said to have occurred in 2019 and involved a girl who was 14 or 15, and a member of his congregation, at the time. Mr Shelton had repeatedly attacked Alice Oseman's Heartstopper series of graphic novels, which are charming and chart the progress of a teen romance between two gay guys. One blogger summarised it as follows "He also claimed that children should not "explore their sexuality". Except of course, with you, Mr Shelton, eh?"
