Ricky Gervais: "Homophobic parents are child abusers"

Ricky Gervais has said that homophobic parents are child abusers.

The British comedian revealed his stance while talking on CNN's Piers Morgan show in the US on Friday night (February 17).

He said: "It's when I see some of these religious fundamentalists saying that they've told their five-year-old children that if they turn out gay, they will burn in hell. That to me is child abuse. That's nothing to do with religion or spirituality. That's child abuse."

The actor and writer admitted that, although he is an atheist, he respects the idea of religion.

He told Piers Morgan: "I've got nothing against people believing in God at all. In fact, if it did make you a kinder person, if you only did good things in his name, then great. But there's the rub.

"So that's why I'm passionate when it comes to that."

The Life's Too Short sitcom star continued his rant when asked why he thought many Republican politicians took the anti-gay stance, and if they did it because of their beliefs.

He said: "Just because they're offended by someone being gay, it doesn't mean they're right.

"It's a strange thing that gay - being gay - is a choice. No, being gay isn't a choice, you know? I want to go, 'Look, you try it, then. If it's a choice, have a go'."

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Watch the behind-the-scenes video of Ricky Gervais' appearance on the show below: