Southpinellas: New mix for pride, protest

ST. PETERSBURG - Last year, participants in the St. Pete Pride parade and street festival clashed with protesters wielding megaphones and signs. This year, the city enacted new rules for conduct at such events. Protesters will be limited to a "free speech area, " and police can fine or arrest people who carry signs or use sound amplification in the parade route. The Times spoke with Brian Longstreth, the coordinator for St. Pete Pride, and Larry Keffer, the Tampa preacher who led last year's protest, about homosexuality and the new restrictions.

Brian Longstreth: "The other option was not to do anything. If we were going to have a repeat, it probably wouldn't have been as peaceful as it was last year. We were very fortunate that it didn't escalate into anything worse than it did. ... I think this is in some ways appropriate for the improper actions of those protesters.... They're essentially going to have a booth at the festival. The protest zone is immediately adjacent to the street. Their booth will be bigger than anybody else's, and they didn't have to pay for it."

Larry Keffer: "I think it's very sad, because what's going to happen now is their legal department is going to have to scrutinize every permit. Because now it's not the ordinance that needs to be looked at but the permit that is pulled, because if you violate any condition of a permit then you're in violation of a local ordinance, hence you're breaking the law, hence you can be arrested. The silence of this community is deafening. I can't believe people are willing to sit back and let their rights be taken."

Longstreth: "When you start using the language they were using, when you start attacking children, when you start attempting to provoke a response, you've crossed that line of free speech. It's unfortunate that it was allowed to go on last year."

Keffer: "When society or people in society think God's word is offensive or hateful, then that society is in deep trouble. ... What I'm doing is going out there and preaching the gospel. I'm quoting scripture right out of the Bible. ... We just go out and share the truth and love."

Longstreth: "I believe (protesters) are following an interpretation of the Bible that not everybody agrees with. ... There's a lot of other verses in Leviticus that if people followed it would be a real strange community that we live in. I think to have a strict interpretation of picking and choosing which ones that they want to use is a dangerous thing."

Keffer: "Leviticus 18:22: 'Thou shalt not lay with mankind like with womankind, it is an abomination.' Abominable means detestable. Do you know what the next sentence says? The next sentences talks about having sex with animals. That's the grouping."

When: Parade begins at 10 a.m., street festival 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30. The festival will include more than 275 vendors, a food court and live entertainment.

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Comments on this article

by Rick	06/26/07 06:30 PM
I just read the first posting in this list by Carolyn who uses "Gay" and "Pedophilia" in the same sentence. How ignorant! If she had half a brain she would know that the vast majority of pedophiles are straight men and or affiliated with churches.

by Diane	06/24/07 07:20 AM
Not everyone in America is a homosexual, in fact most are NOT. Yet, that agenda is being promoted not only on our streets but in our government, in our schools yet those preaching the Gospel are mocked?? Man..the end is surely near. Sleepers WAKE UP!

by Thomas	06/23/07 12:50 AM
Remember that not everyone in America is a Christian and not everyone believes in the Bible. Therefore religon should not be a part of any political issues or others such as these. Keep your beliefs to yourself and dont push them on others.

by Thomas	06/23/07 12:47 AM
These negative comments remind me of something you would read in Iran or Saudi Arabia quoted from the Quran seeing as those are Islamic states. The people remind me of the extremist that caused the terrorist attacks on the US.

by Greg	06/22/07 11:09 AM
Keep in mind everyone that Jesus was a Street Preacher, who talks more about Hell than Heaven. He also condemns Sin. Not only will you find the Bible talk about Homesexuality in the Old Testament, it is also in the new testament. Read Romans 1:26

by larry	06/22/07 07:36 AM
Will someone please tell me what words we spoke that were vulgar and hateful. Also, there is always a choice! and, there is no peace with knowing the one who gives peace! Same with love and truth. Trust Jesus Christ the Lord and be saved!

by Julie	06/22/07 12:37 AM
Just remember we didn't choose this life style- we were choosen. Suzanne W

by Julie	06/22/07 12:35 AM
50,000 happy revelers, 3 angry guys with a microphone, come Times where is the perspective???????

by tim	06/21/07 10:04 PM
I also witnessed the obscene language from the protestors.Pride is a celebration of differences and acceptance.

by Kirk	06/21/07 09:55 PM
I am an Orthodox Christian and God shall be my judge, not man and especially not the likes of Mr. Keffer.

by Scott	06/21/07 09:35 PM
I too was at the festival last year and witnessed the whole event. I must say I was sickened by the actions of Mr. Keffer. He will meet his maker one day and burn for eternal life. Mr Keffer is one evil man.

by Edward	06/21/07 09:29 PM
Taking the evangelicals thought process to it's logical end we should not eat shrimp, should stone women who have sex out of wedlock and abolish abortion. All those in favor?

by Larry	06/21/07 09:18 PM
WOW! People think God's Word is obscene! Sounds like Psalm 5:5 and Psalm 7:11 people to me. But the reason I am commenting is because the sodomite said I was attacking children. We never attacked anyone. I wonder what made him say that?

by Alex	06/21/07 08:58 PM
John 3:19-And this is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,because their deeds were evil.John 3:36-He who does not believe the Son shall not see life,but the wrath of God abides on him.

by Alex	06/21/07 08:46 PM
For Ricc, you mentioned look up the word Whosoever, well there is no so word in the greek. The proper rendering is "pas" defined as believing ones or everyone believing should not perish but have everlasting life. Thats for humble sinners not rebels.

by Alex	06/21/07 08:29 PM
That passage in Leviticus 18:22 is under the moral commandments which are still kept, the ten commandments that is, and the passage concerning blending of fabrics and dietary restrictions are under the ceremonial laws which have been abrogated.

by StPeteResident	06/21/07 07:21 PM
Keffer, keep reading in Leviticus. That blended shirt you wear is also addressed in Leviticus, as well as eating shellfish. Keep reading, keep reading!

by Allison	06/21/07 07:18 PM
I'm sorry Mr. Keffer where in the bible does it say that you yell obscenitites at others? Ahh yes, that must have been when jesus was up on the cross and said "All you gays can go to hell!" The bible was written by man, not faxed down from heaven.

by Ricc	06/21/07 06:32 PM
Kudos St. Pete Pride for creating an area designated for those who claim to protest in Jesus' name (hmmm). As pastor of a radically hospitable church, I was ashamed of Minister Keffer and crew, I strongly encourage him to look up "whosoever."

by Paul	06/21/07 05:56 PM
Hey Keffer, keep your hatred for humans over in Tampa where it belongs. St Pete is hip, funky and cool. We all get along quite well and realize diversity is awesome and makes for a great city. If you come to the parade, be nice, or be gone.

by Paul	06/21/07 04:46 PM
Save the world, burn your bible. Stop telling people how to live, don't like the homeless, don't talk to them. Don't like pride festivals, don't go to them. Hatred is an attempt to make one feel better about their own low opinion of themself.

by Brian	06/21/07 01:04 PM
If stupid made you ugly Keffer would look like a Great Dane's soiled butt.

by John	06/21/07 01:03 PM
I'm straight and attended this event last year. I was one of the folks in a scuffle with Rev. Dirtbag's minions after watching them berate an eight year old girl via megaphone about her mommy being an abomination. Disgusting behavior.

by Kris	06/21/07 12:32 PM
Gay, Str8, christian, WTF, The real issue is if ANYONE should be allowed to harass and torment passersby--They should have been arrested for that last year. Parade or no, if I was on the street screaming obscenities at children, i'd be locked up.

by pride	06/21/07 11:43 AM
I think this is ridiculous. Gay, straight, bi, whatever you are we are all people and human. GET OVER YOURSELVES!!! This is getting so old. We are here, we are queer, get used to it!!!

by Catt	06/21/07 09:57 AM
We are anyone. Your mom, dad, daughter, son, friend and neighbor. Why is it that when you attack a gay person, it's ok b/c it's "in the Bible". When you attack any other person, it's a hate crime or terrorist activity. Jesus said love EVERYONE.

by Bruce	06/21/07 09:14 AM
The only real reason why the city lets this happen is money! Much of the citys residents are gay and to make them feel like they are important they get a parade. Brian enjoys hosting it to bring money to his brothers business and money to the area

by Polly	06/21/07 08:56 AM
Correction to my 1st comment.Change Americans to humans. HUMANS. Tom? The confrontations are not evoked by the gay community nor by the straight folks who show their support. How often do you see GLBTs standing in Church parking lots with megaphones?

by Frank	06/21/07 08:19 AM
Mr. Keffer obviously has a problem with anyone who disagrees with him. But that is true of all Bigots. May God bless him and show him the light!

by TOM	06/21/07 08:11 AM
Another event on my must miss list. If you want to observe sexual ordination than visit gay bars. These events are designed to provoke confrontation.

by Polly	06/21/07 07:58 AM
I witnessed Larry Keffer's "preaching" at last year's Pride. There was no love coming from those megaphones.So discouraging to hear Americans treating other Americans with a lack of dignity and respect. Stand with your signs, stop spewing your hate.

by Paul	06/21/07 07:51 AM
It's not only in Leviticus. It's in the New Testament as well. That poses a problem for many Christians.

by stpete	06/21/07 07:32 AM
If they consider 'preaching love' as shouting swears at children, then there is a problem with the world. I watched them swear at children through a megaphone about what their parents were. That is sick.

by Sylvia	06/21/07 07:17 AM
Carolyn, Carolyn. Where to begin? Homosexuality is a sexual orientation,like heterosexuality is. Pedophilia (primarily by heterosexuals)is a perversion. Stupidity is a genetic defect.

by sylvia	06/21/07 07:10 AM
Rev.Keffer, I'm female. so what does this strict word-for-word interpretation of Leviticus tell me? That I must lie with womankind or it will be an abomination? Or that women are not important enough to be addressed by Leviticus? Reject cant.Think!