"Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson raised controversy last year when he denounced homosexuality to GQ Magazine.

Now, he's defending his views, saying he wants to help "those poor souls" and "turn them to Jesus."

According to Al.com, Robertson's comments were made during a Q&A at an appearance at the Rock the South festival in Cullman, Alabama, over the weekend.

"I'm actually a nice man. ... I'm trying to help those poor souls and turn them to Jesus," Robertson reportedly said.

During the session, Robertson encouraged his audience to vote in the upcoming presidential elections.

"Hey, Alabama, whatever you do, register to vote for this presidential election," Robertson said. "Go vote for the House and the Senate, too. Vote this ungodly bunch out of Washington, D.C."

Last December, Robertson was suspended from A&E Network after his comments in the GQ magazine January issue, where he said: "Don't be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers - they won't inherit the kingdom of God. Don't deceive yourself. It's not right. ... We never, ever judge someone on who's going to heaven, hell. That's the Almighty's job. We just love 'em, give 'em the good news about Jesus - whether they're homosexuals, drunks, terrorists. We let God sort 'em out later, you see what I'm saying?"

Over Easter weekend, the "Duck" star once again made headlines when he preached a sermon in which he discussed the controversy surrounding the his earlier anti-gay comments.

'They were mad at me,' he told his audience. 'You say, "why'd they get mad at you?" Cuz instead of acknowledging their sin, like you had better do, they railed against me for giving them the truth about their sins. Don't deceive yourselves.'

The 68 year old born again Christian went on to say that "'The news media didn't even know it was a verse! They thought I was just mouthing off. "Is homosexual behavior a sin?" The guy asked me. I said, "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived".'

Deirdre Gurney, executive producer of Duck Dynasty said: "I know Phil Robertson. I know his beliefs. I know how he treats a crew that has several gay people on it, and people of different races and people from all different places."

Gurney added that Robertson does not deny who he is, and that he stands by his beliefs:

"But that isn't how he treats people - it is what he thinks. I think there's a separation between what he thinks and how he thinks people should be treated. I don't think he was saying anything about how people should be treated."