Christians take complaints about Charlotte NC homosexual pride festival to City Council when DA decides not to prosecute

Police at homosexual festival refuse to enforce local obscenity laws.

Efforts by Christians to protect children at a public park from a lesbian's pedophilic “comedy,” and from graphic images of naked homosexuals engaged in sodomy, fail when District Attorney Peter Gilchrist decides not to prosecute. Yet Christians fight on taking the battle to the gates of the city, refusing to give ground where King Jesus has commanded the Church to go. "The Lord said, ... And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:7-8

Christians take complaints about Charlotte NC homosexual pride festival to City Council when DA decides not to prosecute
Sheryl Chandler reporting

May 1, 2004 about 40 gentle Christians went to Marshall Park in downtown Charlotte NC, to witness the life-changing Gospel message to the attendees of the 5th annual homosexual pride festival. God gave us many divine appointments and ministry opportunities. Many who were lost and struggling in the sins of homosexuality heard the Truth presented in love. All of us were excited and encouraged by the opportunities God gave us to witness and lift His name high.

We had a 3-pronged approach that day.

1) Six of us manned a vendor booth that we rented right in the middle of the festival! We rented a "civic vendor booth" for the purpose of "telling people about the love of Jesus." The organizers assumed that we were a "gay friendly religious organization" and granted us a booth. We set up right there and passed out 100 Bibles, gospel tracts, video testimonies of a former homosexual whom Jesus redeemed. We also gave away snacks and refreshments. We had a banner proclaiming that Jesus Is Lord. See the photos included in this report. It was amazing that we were able to do this for several hours until our materials were completely distributed. None of us was ever asked to leave the park. God completely and totally blinded the eyes of the organizers as to what we were doing. They had heard (from the police) that there might be a vendor booth passing out "anti-pride" materials and, if found, they would be forced to leave the park with NO refund on the booth rental. They were looking for us, but never found us.

Christians rented a vendor booth at the homosexual festival. We passed out 100 Bibles, countless Gospel tracts, and videoes of personal testimonies from those whom Christ has redeemed from homosexuality.

Other "religious vendors" around us in the festival knew exactly what we were doing. We were surrounded by the MCC booth and other "Christian" booths. We were witnessing to them as well. When some of the attendees found out what we were about, many got hostile and loud, but the organizers -- the ones who could have kicked us out -- never found out.

Christians witnessing quietly in the park.

2) Many others quietly wandered through the festival striking up conversations and witnessing to the attendees. Most of these Christians were forced out of the park one-by-one as the police overheard conversations about Jesus. None of these conversations were loud arguments. They were just looking for witnessing Christians. It seems we were “disturbing the peace” of their celebratory event. The police officers were quite active in kicking out the Christians, yet they turned a blind eye to the lawlessness going on all around them. Keep reading to learn about all that!

Danielle Sugar prays with a lesbian who was crying over her sin and bondage. Danielle faithfully witnessed the life-changing Gospel to her, although she claimed to be a "Christian" and was an active leader in her gay-friendly church.

3) Another group stayed on the outskirts of the park, on the public sidewalk, boldly prophesying and witnessing. This group got larger as the afternoon wore on. The ones inside the park who were removed by the police simply joined this group. God provided dozens of one-on-one ministry opportunities on the outskirts of the park.

But we also saw and witnessed many illegal and lewd activities, including an open display of pornography. Several of us asked the police officers at the event if such things were legal in a public park where children were playing, but we got nowhere with them. There were about 8 officers assigned to the event and most appeared to be homosexual themselves -- wearing rainbow pins/buttons/scarves on their uniforms. We believe this establishes their motive in turning a blind eye to the lawlessness.

I snapped a few pictures during my time at the park and when I got home and downloaded them and viewed them, I felt led by the Holy Spirit to make a formal complaint to the police department and ask for prosecution of the lawbreakers. My original letter to District Attorney Peter Gilchrist follows below. It will describe more fully the events of the day.

Unfortunately, after a 4-month "investigation," the DA made the decision on Sept. 28, 2004, NOT to prosecute. So, about 30 of the same gentle Christians went to the Charlotte City Council meeting held Monday, November 1, 2004, to voice our concerns and complaints about what transpired in our city park on 5/1/04. Seventeen of us made 2-minute speeches before the council. I also provided each council member, the mayor, the city attorney and the city manager information packets which included: (1) 6 photos taken at the event, including the pornography, (2) a copy of the city permit which was granted to the Charlotte Pride organization to hold this event in Marshall Park, (3) copies of both the State and local obscenity ordinances, (4) my original letter of complaint to D.A. Peter Gilchrist, (5) a copy of a feature item which ran in the Charlotte Observer newspaper several times before the event (this item is of legal importance because it establishes that the general public was invited.)

Many, but not all, Council members listened and seemed disturbed by the photos. They asked City Manager Pam Syfert to "look into it." Two council members asked questions among themselves about permit lead-time, etc.

An interesting note is that Mayor Pat McCrory wrote the Charlotte Pride organization a letter on official city letterhead, welcoming them and their festival guests to our city and wishing them an enjoyable time while here. The Charlotte Pride organization proudly displayed his letter on their web site last spring. My BIGGEST regret is that I did not download and print that letter last spring when I had the chance. It would have been an excellent addition to our information packets!

We MUST each make ongoing personal contact with them to keep the pressure on them to take the right course of action. Request follow-up from them. Let them know you will not rest until they make a firm commitment to (1) prosecute the lawbreakers from May 1, (2) reprimand/dismiss the irresponsible police officers, (3) refuse to grant any future permits to Charlotte Pride or any other like-minded organization.

Our group plans to return to City Council on Jan. 24 and make similar speeches when their meeting is TELEVISED unless we get firm commitments from them before that time. Unfortunately, most of our leaders do not lead, instead they "react." So we must keep the pressure on them. They will not do the right thing unless they hear plenty of public outcry. This is our duty and responsibility as Christians to be bearers of light and involved participants in our government.

Sheryl Chandler

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5-20-2004

Dear Mr. Gilchrist,

I am a concerned resident of Charlotte. I witnessed the “Gay Pride Festival” held in our city-owned Marshall Park on Saturday May 1, 2004. I was there with a group of Christians who were bringing the Gospel message to the attendees. What I saw and heard astonished and perplexed me. I find it hard to believe that these events were legal in an outdoor, public park in which children were playing frisbee and roaming freely.

There was a small group of police officers who seemed to be assigned to the event. I saw approximately 6 female officers and 2 male officers.

Charlotte police officer, in downtown Marshall Park, looks at the open display of pornography. She shirked her sworn duty to uphold the law and protect our citizens from obscenity.

First, and most blatant, was a vendor booth posted wall-to-wall with pornographic images of full male frontal nudity, many in a state of sexual arousal. The vendor is “Gay Naturists International” or GNI. The exterior sign read “Hot Naked Men”. I went in to investigate because I couldn't believe that they would have pornography in a public park. But they did! When I arrived at the booth, a female officer was there looking at the pornography. I nervously snapped a few digital pictures. She did not appear to be there to determine whether a crime was occurring. She was there, seemingly, to just look the pornography. I failed to get her name, but she is the one in the enclosed photograph. I asked her if this was legal and she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “I don't know.” Jason Dellinger and I pressed her on this question several times, mentioning that this was a city-owned public park, children were in the park, etc., but she just repeated that she didn't know. I asked if she could call her superior officer and find out and she then terminated our conversation. This encounter was at approximately noon .

Please take note of the top left portion of the interior booth photograph. It appears to be 3 men engaged together in sodomy.

Later in the afternoon, around 3pm, I was on the outskirts of the park, near 3rd street. I saw two uniformed male officers nearby observing the festival. I approached one and asked him if full frontal nudity was legal in a public park and he said he didn't know anything about it and had not seen it. I repeatedly told him where this was happening and he repeatedly said he had not seen it and did not know anything about it. I asked him to go look. It was less than 100 yards from where we were standing. He repeatedly refused. I asked him if he would go and investigate if I told him a child was being abused down there or would he just keep saying “I don't see it”? He terminated our conversation at that point saying that he was “finished with me.” He and the other officer remained standing in that same spot, on the outskirts of the festival event, for at least 2.5 more hours. I did not get his name either, but I believe I could identify him from the group of officers at the park.

Another event at this public festival was a transvestite performance with vile and provocative and suggestive dancing. Children were in the audience and some were actively participating in stuffing dollar bills into the dancers' articles of clothing. One transvestite, the “Giraffe Lady,” simulated sodomy in her choreography with her two dance partners (see photo enclosed). I saw Josh, a 9-year old boy from Charlotte whom I had met earlier in the day, stuff bills into the bra of this dancer, to everyone's delight. I know several people who saw this first-hand and I can put you in touch with them.

A lesbian performer, who was a magician/comedian, told the audience of adults and children, that she loved to work at 4-year old girls' birthday parties. She said, "I call them my 'Dikes on Trikes.'" The audience roared with laughter at this offensive remark. Children are NOT to be thought of or spoken of in sexual terms. This remark should have launched a child abuse investigation against this lesbian. But instead, she continued her "comedy" routine from the sound stage.

Countless lewd and perverse comments, vulgarities, jeers and jokes were made from the sound stage throughout the day.

Others who witnessed these lewd events and the pornography are:

David Benham 704-XXX-XXXX
Jason Dellinger 704-XXX-XXXX
Tim Hanline 704-XXX-XXXX
David Drye, Jr. 704-XXX-XXXX
Ron Magnuson and his photographer from Channel 9 News 704-XXX-XXXX. Other media personalities (Fox News, WBTV, WCNC) reported from the festival, but I do not know exactly what they saw.

I know of 2 dozen others who can give personal testimony concerning the specifics of this event. Please contact me for further information. The printed photos I am giving you were taken with my digital camera and the electronic files are available.

I am asking you to prosecute the lawbreakers at this festival and punish the festival organizers. They knew full well what this vendor booth displayed and promoted.

I also believe that the officers assigned to this event did not uphold their duties and responsibilities. They forsook the law abiding and tax paying citizens of Charlotte by refusing to enforce our local obscenity laws. They did not protect us or our children. While I admire and respect our police force as a whole, this small group of officers shed a bad light on the force. They should be reprimanded.

Never again should the Charlotte Pride organization be given a festival permit in a public facility.

Please use your office to protect our residents from obscenity and to keep our great city family friendly.

With deepest regards,

Sheryl Chandler

Contact Charlotte Mayor & City Council Members:

Mayor Patrick L. McCrory (R)
600 E 4th Street
Charlotte NC 28202
704-336-2241
mayor@ci.charlotte.nc.us

City Council At-Large
Mayor Pro Tem
Patrick D. Cannon (D)
6922 Culloden More Ct.
Charlotte NC 28217
704-890-1835
TryCannon@aol.com

City Council At-Large Member 2
Pat Mumford (R)
2208 Dilworth Road , West
Charlotte NC 28203
704-358-1689
patmumford@bellsouth.net

City Council At-Large Member 3
Susan Burgess (D)
1333 Carlton Ave.
Charlotte NC 28203
704-333-2874
sburg346@aol.com

City Council At-Large Member 4
John Lassiter (R)
2632 Winding Oak Dr.
Charlotte NC 28270
704-542-1426
Lassiter@bellsouth.net

City Council District 1
Patsy Kinsey (D)
2334 Greenway Ave.
Charlotte NC 28204
704-376-5367
pbk2@mindspring.com

City Council District 2
James Mitchell, Jr. (D)
4110 Double Creek Crossing Dr. #111
Charlotte NC 28269
704-598-0147
jamesdistrict2@aol.com

City Council District 3
Warren Turner (D)
PO Box 35465
Charlotte NC 28231
704-713-0452
district3_turner@yahoo.com

City Council District 4
Malcolm Graham (D)
3404 Cresta Ct.
Charlotte NC 28269
704-547-1193
MalcolmDist4@aol.com

City Council District 5
Nancy Carter (D)
1401 Cavendish Ct.
Charlotte NC 28211
704-336-3431
71170.3036@compuserve.com

City Council District 6
John Tabor (R)
2425 Sharon Road
Charlotte NC 28211
704-362-1700
john@tabor2000.com

City Council District 7
Don Lochman (R)
6915 Linkside Court
Charlotte NC 28277
704-846-6976
djloch@earthlink.net

Charlotte City Manager (appointed)
Pam Syfert
600 E. 4th Street
Charlotte NC 28202
704-336-2241
psyfert@ci.charlotte.nc.us