Homosexual 'Pride' Event Pushed Back Into Closet, Says Christian Group
by Allie Martin
April 3, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The president of a Christian activist group is claiming victory after cancellation of an annual "gay pride" event in Charlotte, North Carolina.
For the past four years, members of Operation Save America (OSA) have turned out at the annual "Charlotte Pride" event, a spring gathering that has featured transvestite dancers, homosexual comedians, and vendor booths pushing sadomasochism (S&M) merchandise. Taking part in peaceful demonstrations, OSA members have distributed Christian tracts and literature that exposes the true agenda of homosexual activists and their supporters.
Now the event, which had been scheduled for the first weekend in May in downtown Charlotte's Marshall Park, has been cancelled, says the Christian activism group. OSA president Flip Benham asserts that support for the homosexual pride event dwindled as Christians became more vocal. Benham recalls the activities of his group at last year's event.
"We had ... hundreds of Christians singing beautiful songs, praise and worship songs, outside of the park. We had hundreds of them inside of the park, engaging in witnessing one-on-one," he says, "and what we had was the church of Jesus Christ now with her theology becoming biography in the streets of Charlotte." What happened this year? "This year the Charlotte Gay Pride Parade just said, 'Forget it; we can't take this. It isn't fun anymore,'" Benham shares.
The OSA leader says he expects another group to try to convene a similar event next year in Charlotte, but that he believes Christians nationwide can learn from the victory this year.
"We Christians at churches around the city of Charlotte are rejoicing over what God has done -- and we've found out that it's true that when the church of Jesus Christ arrives at the gates of hell, the gates of hell cannot prevail against it," Benham says. "And our hope is that this will provide an avenue for churches that are dealing with this issue in other cities to do the very same thing."
During the 2005 event police removed Christians from the area after complaining about explicit jokes and dances performed in front of children.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
