Gay Pride Fest Prompts Call for Dialogue on Homosexuality, Bible

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Monday, August 27, 2007

A pro-gay festival in Charlotte, N.C., drew hundreds of gay rights advocates on Saturday along with several protestors preaching against gay tolerance.

The Pride Charlotte 2007 "United for Equality" Festival, sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Charlotte, went on peacefully with food and music as protestors were left alone to hold signs and voice opposition.

Ahead of the pro-gay festival, an Opposition Strategies Committee prepared for anti-gay efforts, urging all festival attendants to avoid any direct confrontation with picketers, mainly local church leaders. The committee was also on hand to "create a safe space between protestors and attendees to make certain that our community will be able to enjoy the day unfettered," according to Q-Notes, the gay newspaper of the Carolinas.

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Gateway Village became the new venue for Pride Charlotte beginning in 2006 as a privately-owned location to keep protestors at a distance.

Pride Charlotte 2007 also reportedly featured a "Booth of Truth" which was set up to offer "truthful, gay affirming information about spirituality," according to Q-Notes.

In response, Dr. Michael L. Brown, director of the Coalition of Conscience and a biblical scholar, announced plans for an upcoming open dialogue on the Bible and homosexuality to address the controversial issue.

"This is a highly divisive issue that is of paramount importance to tens thousands of Christians in the greater Charlotte area, and it's about time that we bring the relevant issues to light in a mutually respectful, Christlike manner," said Brown in a statement. "Hopefully, clergy in the gay and lesbian community will be willing to come out on this issue too."

Brown has extended invitations to Charlotte's gay clergy to participate in the public dialogue scheduled for Sept. 20 at Fire Church in Concord.

"Hopefully, in 21st century America, we can air our differences and have serious interaction without engaging in name-calling, hate speech, or rancor.

"And certainly, there will be no gay-bashing from me."

While gay pride events and protestors from the church are nothing new and have been occurring in Charlotte since 1978, Brown pointed out the need to bring the issue especially in the context of the Bible into light.

"If my viewpoint is wrong, that means I've been guilty of making God into a bigoted homophobe. If their viewpoint is wrong, that means they're sanctioning sin," Brown stated.

"If we're convinced that our position is right, why not bring it into the light? Do we have anything to hide?" said Brown, noting that Jesus himself said that, "whoever lives by the truth comes into the light."

The Sept. 20 forum – titled "Can You Be Gay and Christian?" – will begin at 7 p.m. and is open to the general public.