Gay Pride March In Spartanburg Ends Peacefully
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Gay Pride Parade
Gay Pride ParadePublished: June 20, 2009
It is a controversial issue that had supporters and protestors out in full force Saturday in Spartanburg.
The first ever gay pride parade made its way through the streets of downtown Spartanburg as supporters marched and protestors demonstrated peacefully. And for those marching it was a day of history.
“This is an important day in history for gays and lesbians,“ said Harriet Hancock. “It’s one of the first steps in achieving full civil rights for the gay community and i’m proud to be apart of it.“
Hancock, who is heterosexual, joined several other homosexuals from the upstate and beyond to march on downtown Spartanburg for the first time ever. While Hancock and other supporters for gay rights were marching, so were protestors, who had made their way from across the upstate and beyond.
“We’re hoping for a little more tolerance,“ said Jay Ault, a supporter of gay rights. “We know that’s easier said than done. That a lot of people are set in their views and these don’t change easily.“
Joshua Spencer was one of the protestors who took to the street to express his views and opposition to the march.
“They want to bring their agenda to the people of Spartanburg and we want to oppose that agenda,“ said Spencer. Protestors like Spencer lined the streets with signs and words that let the supporters know how they felt about the parade.
One sign read, “Let Jesus save your life,“ and protestors walked alongside the supporters marching as they were urged to bring the signs. “Let’s go ya’ll, bring the signs,“ one protestor said. “Bring the signs.“
Despite the opposition and disagreement on the issue, the controversial march went off without any problems and ended peacefully. However, few people changed their thoughts on the subject and continued to voice their opinion.
“I believe it’s un-scriptual,“ said one protestor. “I believe it’s unholy, and I believe it’s an abomination of what the bible says.“
“They have nothing else to do all day but come out here and watch us,“ said one supporter. “That’s okay. They don’t bother us.“
But for supporters like Ault, they feel they have accomplished something.
“The time for pride is now,“ he said. “You’ve got to have pride in yourself and you’ve got to be true to yourself.“
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I did not write this. It is from the KJV Bible which is used by more than just Southern Baptists:
Isaih 5:20 “Woe unto them who call evil good…“
Leviticus 20:13 “If a man lies with mankind as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their bloodshed will be upon them.“
Abomination defined: something disgusting; a vile, shameful or detestable action.
Simple enough. Believe or disbelieve that the Bible is the Word of God. It is your choice.
I will first start by saying that I am not gay, so before the pious ones on here pounce that I am , and that is the reason I am posting. I am a Christian, and I, like others are sick of the Bible Thumping, Jesus every other word, or Amen, thinking that is what makes them good Christians.
A poster here (Ray) said it very well. Sexuality has NOTHING to do with anything. Homosexual, bisexual, heterosexual, what is the difference?? It is a matter of choice, like preference in how you like your steak cooked, or music, or the colors you wear. You prudes, especially the hypocritical southern baptists, who have their own version of the Bible it seems. Did ANY of you ever think that some of the Bible is NOT what God said, but man took it and twisted it?
Read most of Leviticus, does it even make sense? Its contradictory to most of what God was saying. My personal opinion in this is that lucifer got to some of the “authors”. I am not here to discuss Biblical theology.
As for people like (Al) and (Deathangel) who cannot answer a simple question but dances around it with a typical evasive answer. I will ask all you people AGAIN. What would you do IF one of you children, grandchildren, came to you and said they were gay? DO NOT come back with the typical LAME answer of “none of mine can ever be gay”, or the BRILLIANT answer by his royal hindendness the (deathangel) “I taught them better, they would not tell me even if they were”. WHA??? So in other words if you did not know they were, you would not be able to tell the difference, and you would love them just the same?? YOU DONT SAY!!
(Al) there is not hope for people like you, people that use the phrase “my neck of the woods”. YEEEEHAAWWW, you go there bubba! Still carry that Skoal in that back pocket dont you!
Sexual preference is just THAT. Oh by the way (deathangel), seems you have a problem with nudity also. Have you EVER been out of the county? Go travel, see the world, and I dont mean the foothills west virginia. No one in the world has issues with nudity except MUSLIMS, and some extreme religions (COUGH COUGH). So everyone from now on, cut the lights off, full dressed, and only touch each other if you are planning on procreating. and I hope for the sake of us all. that these backward morons stop passing their dna.
As a closing note, if you notice the intolerance that these so called insults to Christianity have, who does it remind you of? ISLAM, MUSLIMS. You dont believe me, see how they treat sexuality, and gays. Such a resemblance, ITS SCARY. But I am sure the “ordained ministers” have it all in check. Pass the tray brother elijah, we need a new bus. Yes thats the spirit!
Statistically, 1 out of 10 people identifies themselves as gay or lesbian. I was at the march yesterday. To be in the march was the most wonderful feeling of community and brotherhood. I do have to say this however, I really do admire all of the protesters that came out to the march. I know that this may seem strange to say. They were there just like I was, even though i was there for a different purpose lol, to stand for what they believe in. This takes courage no matter who you are. The one thing that did however amaze me is that there was no love, no respect, not even pity from the protesters. It reminds me very well why I decided from the time that I came out of the closet that I was going to be true to myself. I am a Christian. I know that I am going to Heaven and I know that God loves me!!!! God has not condemed me to eternal fire and brimstone as the protesters would have me believe. Jesus himself set the example that If you want to help people you have to meet them where they are. He didnt hang out with the preacher. He ate with the sinners and prostitutes!!! But on a final note. I am glad for all the support we had at the march and am looking forward to the 2nd annual Spartanburg Gay Pride Festival and March!
YEAH!!! Finally some PRIDE in the Upstate. To all of you that are using the Bible against us, “Love your neighbor as thyself” At least we now know that you do not love yourself. “Let he without sin cast the first stone”, no man is without sin. “Judge not lest ye be judged” Wow, is that the Bible I am quoting, against all of you haters. It is a shame that the Lord’s name is used to justify hatred and prejudice. I hope there are more marches here, Anderson, Greenville, Spartanburg, everywhere. We deserve the same rights as hetero couples. The Federal Govt now extends rights to same sex couples. The times they are a changing. GET WITH IT, OR GET OVER IT!!!!!!
I wanted to comment on all of the emphasis on sexuality in regards to a the Christian faith. I believe very strongly that true life is not about sex or sexuality, but about being born again and given a spiritual life through Christ. I am so tired of people dragging Christianity down to being nothing more than a question of sexual lifestyle. We are not our flesh. If you believe that the being saved is changing who your attracted to, than you are throwing away the precious gift Jesus Christ died to leave us. I think the problem today isn’t that we don’t preach enough about living a Christian lifestyle. I believe that we’ve allowed ourselves to define our lives by ridiculous issues like this.
Dear Al,
Seems to me Hitler used trains and electric fences with the Jews in the 1930s & 40s? Is this your solution—extermination?! My God is more loving, forgiving and all-inclusive.
again with the hate? wow!!!!!!
gotta love what they preach nowadays….God help you if one of your children or grandchildren turn out to be gay or lesbian…. then you’ll have to choose between your love for your child or your hatred for humanity….. good luck with that one
I participated in the gay pride parade….i was amazed at the local preachers and what they had to say…not a single one was asking you to pray to God for forgiveness or ask Jesus to come into your heart…......instead ..it was a constant spew of HATE!!!!!!!!
Abomination this, damnation that!!!!! screaming, yelling til they were so red in the faces , its a wonder their heads didnt explode.
If preaching hate is spreading the gospel then they hit the nail on the head….....but i always thought God and Jesus were about love not HATE.
prehaps its the preachers that need a GOD adjustment.
I am a christian, a lesbian but first and foremost i am an AMERICAN!!!
and no gay rights is in direct violation of my constitutional rights , but mostly its the separation of church and state….come on america get educated on the constitution!!!!!
we will continue to march as all other oppressed groups before i did and many others after us will…
thank you
SHARON GAY DEVER
Shameful, disgraceful public celebration of immorality. The city of Spartanburg ought to be ashamed of giving a permit for such filth. If you let these perverts march in public, next they’ll be wanting to take their clothes off in public. The city should have refused to issue the permit.
I was wondering when these churches that were protesting plan to show up at some of Spartanburg’s sea food restaurants that serve shrimp or lobster. (You know, Leviticus 11:10)
My point; it always becomes interesting when the so called “holy” pick and choose which parts of the bible they see fit to focus on.
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