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Jun 26, 2009 10:47 pm US/Central
Bible Vendor Blocked From Pride Festival In Mpls.
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) ―
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"We have two signs on our table, one says 'free bibles' and one says 'who is Jesus?' That's the content. That's what we want to talk about," said vendor applicant Brian Johnson.
CBS
The 37th annual Twin Cities Pride Festival kicks off Saturday at Loring Park for a weekend full of celebrations.
In past years, Pride has attracted all sorts of people for the camaraderie and the big parade. There are always hundreds of vendors. But this year, a couple who's had a booth for the past decade isn't allowed.
Pride organizers are cracking down and enforcing the vendor rules. As vendors set up for the Pride Festival, this booth with its signs about Jesus, models of fetuses and stack of bibles won't be there this year.
"What we do is we have two signs on our table, one says 'free bibles' and one says 'who is Jesus?' That's the content. That's what we want to talk about. We're not wanting to talk about homosexuality," said vendor applicant Brian Johnson.
But inevitably homosexuality comes up, because Brian and Doris Johnson are Born Again Christians. They believe homosexuality is a sin and God has sent them to share that message.
While they do not behave violently, their display and discussions do offend some and have even incited participants to rip up their bibles. Because of that, the new festival management wouldn't approve their application this year.
"It is not, in our belief, discrimination, certainly not. If anything, we're worried about being discriminated against at our own event," said Twin Cities Pride's David Hill.
There are many organizations including churches in the area that are affirming of the GLBT community. But festival organizers say the Johnsons are not.
"Are you not discriminating against me because I'm a Born Again Christian, and isn't discrimination against the content of speech, isn't that discrimination?" said Johnson.
While the Johnsons did sign the festival's anti-discrimination statement, signing is not enough. A dozen e-mails were exchanged and the Johnson's could not convince organizers that they would be accepting of the GLBT community, so they will not have a booth this year. The Johnsons say they will still attend the Pride Fest and try to hand out bibles.
Pride has paid a fee to rent the whole park. According to Minneapolis Parks, in that case, Pride does have the right to choose which vendors are allowed.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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