PHILADELPHIA, June 14, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Philadelphia’s annual homosexual pride parade and festival, Saturday, funded by the City of Philadelphia, featured floats with simulated sex acts, while the Christians with Repent America faced ongoing threats of violence by a militant mob of homosexuals.
As in previous years, “Philly Pride Presents” held a parade and festival in the streets of Philadelphia that celebrated the sin of homosexuality at the taxpayer’s expense, according to a Repent America release. One float in particular included women, partially dressed in tight leather, bending over with their buttocks exposed, and being spanked with bare hands, whips, and other objects.
“It is absolutely astounding that this type of illegal behavior is being permitted by city officials, and despicable that the police refused to arrest those engaged in the lewd behavior, even after we pointed out the obvious to them,” said Repent America director Michael Marcavage. “We will be providing the video footage of this illegal behavior to Mayor John Street and the City Council, and will demand that they answer for their funding of these types of events, and for the police’s refusal to enforce the law.”
“Philly Pride Presents” has received $20,000 annually since 2001 from Philadelphia’s Department of Commerce through Mayor John Street’s economic stimulus program to put on events such as the pride parade and festival.
Marcavage described the homosexual’s response to the Repent America presence: “Christians with Repent America were surrounded, obstructed, and continuously harassed by a militant mob of homosexuals as they attempted to minister from the Word of God. At times, the homosexuals wore handkerchiefs to conceal their identity as they made ongoing threats of violence against the Christians.”
In February a Philadelphia judge dismissed all criminal charges against four Repent America members arrested after walking a public street and quoting the Bible during Outfest, a celebration of homosexual behavior, on October 10 of last year.
“The police allowed this disorderly group to harass, threaten, and obstruct our message throughout the day, and at times, even the police refused to allow us to move freely and to hand-out Gospel literature,” Marcavage said.
Repent America encourages concerned individuals to contact Mayor John Street’s office to voice your outrage by the funding of homosexual groups at 215-686-2181 (Mayor’s executive secretary Betty Kibler). “Also, we ask that you call Philadelphia Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson’s office at 215-686-3280, and ask him to enforce the laws against lewdness at homosexual events, and to stop the police interference of Christians ministering at these events,” Marcavage added.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Judge drops ‘Hate Crimes’ Charge against ‘Philly 5’ for Preaching at Gay Festival
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05021808.html
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