August 27th 2013 @ 2pm  by Jim Forsyth

 

Opponents of the gay and lesbian anti discrimination law showed their strength this afternoon, packing the front steps of City Hall for a rally called specifically by African American and Latino pastors to show their concerns about the proposal.

Many of the demonstrators carried signs reading simply ‘NO’ and vowed to hold their City Council members accountable if they vote in favor of the measure.

 

Pastor Charles Flowers, who has led the opposition to the proposal, which comes up for council consideration tomorrow, said he is tired of the language and the struggles of the Black civil rights movement being stolen by gay activists to justify their fight.

“The homosexual, lesbian and gender confused community has sought to piggy back on the civil rights movement,” Flowers said to loud applause.  “The current HLGC agenda is not a legitimate extension of the civil rights movement.”

Flowers said opponents of the anti-discrimination ordinance are announcing a ‘divorce between the civil rights movement and the HLGC agenda, citing irreconcilable differences.’

“The Black Codes of 1865 and 1866 restricted the movement of minorities, confining them to low wage jobs and slave conditions,” he said.  “Such has never happened to those involved in the HLGC agenda.”

Flowers went on to cite the Plessey v. Ferguson decision allowing ‘separate but equal,’ which marginalized minorities for sixty years.

“Such has never been the case with the HLGC agenda,” Flowers said.

Flowers also cited the lynchings suffered by African Americans and their white supporters, Jim Crow Legislation, and other outrages suffered by Black Americans, and said gay and lesbian activists have never had to suffer anything remotely like that.

“We must declare that when righteousness fills a nation, the people are exalted, but sin is a reproach for any people,” Flowers said.  “We pray today for mercy and forgiveness to flow like a river.  Let it run down the mountain like a mighty stream and let justice prevail.”

Flowers stressed opponents don’t hate gay rights activists, they simply don’t want Christian people to be required by the proposal to embrace their lifestyle.  He warned that today ‘is the beginning of a movement’ for Christians to fight for their values and their faith.

The crowd vastly outnumbered the roughly fifty people who showed up for a rally of pastors and parishoners in favor of the ordinance which was also held on the City Hall steps last week.