Upon learning the night before that 42-year-old Julion Evans was gay, a Tampa church canceled his late-July funeral. Pastor T.W. Jenkins expressed regret for the cancellation but told WFLA News that New Hope Missionary Baptist Church preaches against gay marriage. Evans’ husband, Kendall Capers, said that he would have understood the church’s position but called the cancelation during the wake "disrespectful" and "wrong."

"Based on our preaching of the scripture, we would have been in error to allow the service in our church," Jenkins said. "I’m not trying to condemn anyone’s lifestyle, but at the same time, I am a man of God, and I have to stand up for my principles."

Evans married his partner of 17 years last year in Maryland. His mother said she was baptised at New Hope as a child.

Watch WFLA News above for more.