Get Ready for Gay Pride in Your City

Get Ready for Gay Pride in Your City - The radical homosexual community in your city will be arrogantly parading its sin like Sodom in public parks across our nation.

Flip preachinag to Gay Pride crowd

Posted on Thu, May. 25, 2006 in the Charlotte Observer in the For the Record section.

If you'd like to respond in the editorial/forum of the paper, email the editor at opinion@charlotteobserver.com. You must sign (type) your name and address. Try to keep your letter under 150 words.

Why Pride Charlotte endures
Charlotte needs celebration where gays, lesbians feel safe and welcome

Laura Witkowski, executive director of Charlotte's Lesbian & Gay Community Center

A few weeks ago, I was a guest on Keith Larson's radio show on WBT after The Lesbian & Gay Community Center announced that we would be having a Pride celebration in Charlotte after all. I say after all because, shortly before our announcement, Operation Save America had held a press conference saying Pride had been "pushed into the closet" and claimed "victory" over the festival.

That is not the case. Pride Charlotte, a task force under the umbrella of The Lesbian & Gay Community Center, is excitedly and feverishly working on the festival, which will take place at Gateway Village on Saturday, Aug. 26.

The main question Mr. Larson asked me in one form or another was, "Why Pride?" From his perspective, it looks like one big party -- a chance for the LGBT community to have a great time together based strictly on sexual orientation. What, essentially, is the point?

Although sexual orientation is what brings us together, Pride is a chance to find a sense of unity and acceptance in a society where LGBT individuals still do not have access to the same rights as heterosexuals. Pride is a chance for LGBT people and allies to come together and celebrate the diversity of our community.

For many, Pride is one of the few times a year they feel safe and comfortable -- one of their only chances to truly be themselves. It is important to remember that regardless of the popularity of "Brokeback Mountain," "Will & Grace" and "The Ellen Show," LGBT individuals still run the risk of getting fired on the basis of our sexuality, are denied health care benefits for our partners because we cannot legally marry, and get no support from a Social Security system that we pay into should our life partner (who we cannot legally marry) pass away.

Despite opposition to the festival in the past, Pride Charlotte is too important and valuable to the community to just cave into the pressure and hassle of those who vocally oppose equal rights and acceptance for all Americans.

Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in this part of the country, and that growth means many younger professional people who are looking for a place they see as inclusive and accepting of all its community members. Richard Florida, author of "Rise Of The Creative Class," points out that people in this younger, hipper, professional group actively look at how LGBT folks are treated in cities they are considering relocating to and businesses they are looking at working for -- even if they're not gay themselves.

Charlotte is a business-driven city with an enormous potential for economic growth. Shutting out events like Pride and perpetuating spiritual violence on Charlotte 's LGBT community isn't just mean-spirited and wrong; it's bad for the city.

I am proud to be a Charlotte transplant -- and I hope that in its own way, Pride Charlotte can bring that kind of pride into the lives of those who attend the festival to celebrate the best kind of freedom of all: freedom to live as you are.

For The Record offers commentaries from various sources. The views are the writer's, and not necessarily those of the Observer editorial board. For information about Pride Charlotte or the center, go to www.PrideCharlotte.com or www.GayCharlotte.com .

Flip's Response
26 May 2006

The Charlotte Observer is the trumpet and “proud” promoter of the radical homosexual agenda in the city of Charlotte . Laura Witkowski's ridiculous article concerning the victimization of the homosexual community in Charlotte is one more example.

The Apostle Paul said it best, “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth.” Galatians 4:16.

Homosexuality is a sin! It is not a human or a civil right. It destroys those who participate in that behavior and nations that approve of it. If we truly love those lost in the bondage of homosexual lust, we must tell them this truth. Jesus is the Truth!

This is the “spiritual violence” and “hate” that Laura whines about – Jesus! He ruins everything for the practicing sodomite. Truth is “hate” to those who hate the truth.

At least this year we will have no transvestites (men dressed like women), spewing their filthy homosexual jokes, bumping and grinding in front of our kids in a public park.

Thank God!

Sheryl's Response
June 1, 2006

Despite Laura Witkowski's claims, Charlotte Pride is no asset to our city. For the last five years, the Pride festival held in Marshall Park consisted of open displays of photographs of men showing full frontal nudity, often in aroused states. Vendors sold sex toys and obscene materials. The stage entertainment was comprised of surgically altered transvestites dancing, grinding and simulating sodomy in their choreography. Song lyrics were vile and sexually threatening to children. They lured children aged 2-10 to the stage. They accepted monetary tips and encouraged young boys to stuff bills into their bras. They sang popular children's songs such as Frosty the Snowman, but altered the lyrics to be despicable, squalid and sexual.

Sexually-oriented businesses are strictly regulated in our community and they, by law, must be at least 1,000' from any park, playground, childcare center, school, church or residential district. They certainly may not be inside a park. We petitioned city leaders on numerous occasions to enforce the existing laws, but they remain politically-correct cowards in the face of these homosexuals.

For the last 3 years, a group of Christians went to the park to witness and proclaim the Gospel message to the attendees. We had many wonderful, one-on-one opportunities to minister, pray with folks and present the message of salvation. We also had opportunity to preach the Gospel to the crowd in general. Many acknowledged their sexual sin and some expressed sorrow and regret but felt trapped in sin. We prayed for their freedom and salvation, which Christ alone can bring. Ms. Witkowski refers to our acts as "spiritual violence."

Organizers have moved the festival to a private venue to escape our Christian influence. They've also changed the name from "Charlotte Pride" to "Pride Charlotte," but I think a far more accurate name would be "Charlotte Shame."

Great letter Miss Sheryl!  

I am in hearty agreement with you.  I think, however, that you need to take some anger management classes to control your "spiritual violence" against poor homosexual sodomites who desire to use our kids as sexual toys.  All they want is our children for goodness sake.  How dare you speak in such harsh language against their desire to have sex with kids.  Homosexuals are, after all, born that way aren't they?  They are innocent victims of God's vindictive nature.  Why can't you just accept them as they are?  WWJD?

You are awesome in the Lord Miss Sheryl!

In Christian love,

Flip

Biblical love is the sworn enemy of sin because sin separates men and women from God and then kills them.  Homosexuality is sin.  Biblical love (Jesus) first exposes sin for what it truly is (this is not "spiritual violence”), and then destroys it by laying its own life down.  No greater love can be expressed Miss Sheryl.