City Council Ignores Conservative Christians' Pleas, Honors 'Gay Pride' Festival
by James L. Lambert August 8, 2006
(AgapePress) - - All eight members of the San Diego City Council voted recently to honor the city's "Gay Pride Celebration," which includes a parade that has been featured by the homosexual community in San Diego for more than 25 years. City leaders issued the proclamation honoring the event despite the testimony of about conservative two dozen Christian activists who did not want to see the city issue the honor on behalf of all of its citizens.
According to About.com, San Diego's annual celebration of "gay pride" attracts more than 100,000 participants and observers to the area, making it one of the largest celebrations of its type on the West Coast. Various events and rallies highlight the festival, says the report, but the big attraction is the Gay Pride Parade -- which About.com describes as a "fabulous spectacle."
But Christian activist James Hartline, a former homosexual who has been transformed by his relationship with Jesus Christ, offers a unique perspective of the parade. Because of his "insider's knowledge," Hartline spoke passionately to the City Council about the dark side of the parade. He detailed segments of the event that feature graphic pornography, nudity, sadomasochism, and other activities too offensive to describe in print.
During his testimony, Hartline recounted how several of the council members had made overtures to the religious community in their bid to become elected. In addressing the city leaders, Hartline specifically requested that those council members who claimed to be Christians not vote for the proclamation.
Reaction from Gay Pride organizers was harsh and particularly critical of Hartline. Lesbian activist Marci Bair said, "... as a Christian, I am disgusted at what has gone on this morning ... disgusted. All of the hate that's been displayed this morning, and it really hurts my heart."
Bair is executive director of Family Matters, a group that advocates homosexual adoption and that, last year, hosted a "Children's Garden" during the Gay Pride Celebration. KGTV-Channel 10, a San Diego ABC television affiliate, reported that Family Matters had hired "Marty the Clown" to entertain children at the venue. Marty the Clown, said the report, was a registered pedophile.
After voting to honor this year's event, Chairman and City Councilman Scott Peters told the audience that "it is not the intention of the Council to embrace all of the activities at Gay Pride described by Mr. Hartline by giving out the proclamation." He concluded by saying he was "sorry that people needed to see [Hartline's remarks] on Channel 24" -- a reference to the local community access television channel that broadcasts the City Council meetings.
James L. Lambert, a frequent contributor to AgapePress, is the author of Porn in America (Huntington House). He is a licensed real-estate mortgage loan sales agent and can be contacted through his website.
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