Members of the LGBTQ+ community, a group of religious protesters, and Seattle police clashed at a controversial prayer rally held in Seattle’s Cal Anderson Park over Memorial Day weekend.
Roughly 500 religious activists showed up in the historically queer neighborhood of Capitol Hill as part of the "Mayday USA" tour, which is touring five major US cities championing pro-life values and opposition to the LGBTQ+ community.
Greeting them were at least as many counter protesters, waving transgender pride flags and brandishing signs reading “Keep Your Bibles Off Our Bodies.”
Journalists on site documented events:
Perhaps unsurprisingly, by the end of the day nearly two dozen individuals were arrested at the Seattle event, which turned chaotic as violence threatened to erupt multiple times between Mayday supporters and protesters.
What is Mayday USA?
The five-city Mayday USA tour was largely focused on what they believe is the indoctrination of children into "LGBTQ+ ideology."
The group promoted the event with “#DontMessWithOurKids” branding. At the Seattle event, one might mistake it for a Christian music festival – at least before things turned south. It featured musical performances, prayers, and sermons from group organizers, including one pastor who spoke in tongues.
The Seattle event was organized in part by Matt Shea, former Washington lawmaker turned preacher at On Fire Ministries in Spokane, Washington. You may remember Shea from his manifesto for waging a holy war against Muslims and atheists, and Shea was also in contact with a religious militia teaching young men weapons handling for this very purpose.
Shea’s manifesto endorsed overthrowing the federal government and replacing it with Christian theocracy with bans on abortions and same-sex marriage, as well as "the killing of all males who do not agree."
Escalating Tensions
The event was a powder keg from the beginning.
There were roughly 500 Mayday USA supporters on one side, and an equivalent number of pro-LGBTQ+ protesters on the other, separated only by small police barriers and Seattle PD. With one side spouting anti-trans rhetoric, and the other with dozens clad in the transgender flag, it seemed nearly inevitable that tensions would boil over.
According to Seattle police, at around 1:30, members on the pro-LGBTQ+ of the barrier began throwing items like water bottles at the other group, prompting a swift police response.
"Officers immediately moved to arrest the people responsible, and while taking the individuals into custody, were assaulted by more protesters, resulting in even more arrests," said the Seattle PD in a statement. "In total, officers arrested 11 during the initial scuffle." 12 more were arrested as the day continued.
Meanwhile, activists also filmed the clash:
The event ultimately was shut down a few hours early, by request of Seattle police.
Were Religious Rights Trampled?
The nonprofit group Alliance Defending Freedom is now considering legal action against the city of Seattle and Mayor Bruce Harrell. They say that the city failed to safeguard the civil rights of the Mayday USA crowd, and allege that in failing to protect them, the city stifled both their freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Much criticism was lobbed at Harrell, who said the worship group were hoping to “provoke a reaction by promoting beliefs that are inherently opposed to our city’s values, in the heart of Seattle’s most prominent LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” Harrell blamed the tensions on “anarchists” who he says “infiltrated the counter-protestors.”
Russell Johnson, head pastor at the Evangelical church Pursuit NW, accused Harrell of “religious bigotry,” demanding an apology on behalf of the worship group who “were violently assaulted for the high crime of expressing their deeply held religious beliefs in the form of a permitted worship event on city property."
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino even weighed in, confirming that the FBI was investigating potential “targeted violence” towards the Christians.
Mayday USA organizers reject Harrell’s idea they were seeking to promote a reaction. “They say we don’t like people,” said Mayday USA spokesperson Folake Kellogg. “We’re not the ones throwing things. We’re here to love Jesus.”
Plot Thickens
However, the group's decision to broadcast anti-trans rhetoric in a historically gay neighborhood in one of the most progressive cities in the country indicates otherwise, critics say. The group was clearly trying to provoke a reaction, LGBTQ+ rights activists argue.
During a subsequent rally at City Hall, those same critics took issue when religious organizers appeared to be screening people from access to public property based on religious affiliation:
What is your reaction?
103 comments
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John W
Hmm, stage an anti-LBGTQ+ event in an area with a large LBGTQ+ population and think that your actions will be ignored or you will not cause a negative reaction. Sorry charlie, ya wave a cape in front of a bull, that bull is eventually gonna charge at you no matter how harmless you think your actions are. I'm not too big of a fan of folks that spew hatred in the name of their particular religious beliefs. Singer Elvis Costello said it best in that we need more "peace, love and understanding".
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Robin Anne Hannon
It is neither Christian nor harmless to stage a hate campaign against LGBTQ people in their own neighborhood. This is their home, and their sanctuary. I wonder how these nutjobs would feel if the LGBTQ population went into their neighborhood and burned bibles, or promoted other anti-Christian ideals. What happened to love thy neighbor as thyself?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Your beliefs are yours and yours alone. No one has any right to impose their beliefs on anyone else. This action is no different then having a Nazi rally in Israel. As such, this should be deemed a hate crime and the Catholic church declared a hate group.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Who said they were Catholics? Some non-denominational right-wing churches and denominations are more homophobic than the Catholics.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Here are the only denominations that are pro-LBGTQ:
Episcopal Church (USA) - Ordains openly LGBTQ+ clergy and performs same-sex marriages. They've been among the most progressive on LGBTQ+ issues since the 1970s. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - Allows ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and permits same-sex marriages, though individual congregations may vary in practice. Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) - Ordains LGBTQ+ clergy in committed relationships and allows blessing of same-sex unions, with many congregations performing same-sex marriages. United Church of Christ - One of the first denominations to ordain an openly gay minister (1972) and has been consistently affirming for decades.
The rest need to go.
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Patricia Ann Gross
You can now add the United Methodist Church to this list. They recently came into the 21st Century.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
The United Methodist Church (UMC) has historically had a mixed stance on LGBTQ+ issues, with significant debate and division within the denomination. Here's an overview of key aspects of its position:
Historical Stance The Book of Discipline:
The UMC's Book of Discipline, which outlines church policies, has traditionally stated that all people are of "sacred worth" but considers "the practice of homosexuality" to be "incompatible with Christian teaching."
This has led to prohibitions against same-sex marriage and the ordination of self-avowed, practicing LGBTQ+ individuals.
General Conference:
Decisions on church doctrine and policy are made at the General Conference, which has consistently maintained traditional views, often by narrow margins.
Recent Developments Global Methodist Church Split:
In 2019, a contentious General Conference reaffirmed the traditional stance, leading to significant disagreements.
This prompted discussions of separation, culminating in the launch of the Global Methodist Church in 2022, a new denomination adhering to traditionalist views.
Ongoing Debate in the UMC:
Many UMC conferences, congregations, and clergy advocate for full inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals, including performing same-sex marriages and ordaining LGBTQ+ clergy, despite official prohibitions.
In progressive regions, church leaders sometimes openly defy these prohibitions.
Future Pathways:
Some conferences are pushing for broader inclusion, while others are adhering to traditional stances or exploring disaffiliation to join the Global Methodist Church or other denominations.
Regional Variations The UMC is a global church with diverse views, meaning practices and attitudes can vary widely by region. For example:
In the U.S. and Western Europe, there is significant support for LGBTQ+ inclusion.
In Africa and other conservative regions, traditional views dominate.
In Practice While the official policies lean traditional, the actual practice often depends on the local church or conference. Many congregations openly welcome LGBTQ+ individuals, regardless of the denomination's official stance.
Current and Future Changes The UMC is undergoing significant transformations. Future decisions, especially at upcoming General Conferences, may redefine the church's official stance on LGBTQ+ issues.
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Priestess Annie
I just want to narrow that down a bit. Saying that those denominations are pro-LGBTQIA++ is not accurate. People runs churches separately and it’s really hit and miss. It’s like politics, everything is getting all blended up and we all just need to be more upfront and open about our beliefs and things and then accept one another’s as well
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Patricia Ann Gross
I agree, and thank you for the clarification. Denominational endorsement of a policy does not immediately change the hearts and minds of the people sitting in the pews. Over time, the message will get through and those who were shunned will find a safe haven. Right now, the UCC, one of the earliest to accept open LGBTQIA+ participation in church leadership, still has independent churches (or people within them) who do not subscribe. Each church has the option to adopt the moniker of "Open and Affirming (ONA)." Not every churh has, but there is generally a grand celebration when they do. One more church left off the list is the MCC, which is a church built by queer people for queer people.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
hahahahaha
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Colleen McAllister
The religious group was obviously holding this prayer rally to target the neghborhood. They were basically asking for trouble. The LGBTQ+ group had the right to protest. Neither side had the right for violence. I long for the day when people stay out of other people's sex lives.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Conservatives are OBSESSED with what is in peoples pants and what they do with it.
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ServantOfJudgement
That's why we have lbtqia++ parades in June? Because conservatives want to know how people prefer sex?
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Michael Hunt
We have Pride parades in June to celebrate the community's ability to be public about their relationships, just like straight couples can, and to celebrate their fight for equal rights and those who paved the trail before them. Conservatives are the ones who jump right to envisioning same-sex couples engaging in sex. When I see a Pride parade, I don't think, "I wonder what those two men do during sex" I think, "what a sweet couple" and, "I'm glad these people can be themselves without having the fear of violence like those of the past did."
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Bill Clinton who first officially recognized Pride Month at the national level in 1999. A democrat, not a republican. Conservative policies often oppose LGBTQ+ rights under the banner of religious freedom or traditional values. Commonly supported measures include restrictions on marriage equality, with efforts to overturn or limit the recognition of same-sex marriages. Some conservative legislators back laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender individuals, particularly minors, citing concerns about medical ethics and long-term effects. Additionally, they advocate for limits on transgender participation in sports, arguing it ensures fairness for cisgender athletes.
Conservatives also push for laws preventing discussions of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, often labeled as protecting parental rights or preserving age-appropriate education. Religious exemptions in anti-discrimination laws allow businesses and institutions to refuse services to LGBTQ+ individuals based on faith beliefs. While these policies are framed as preserving cultural or religious norms. They perpetuate discrimination and harm LGBTQ+ communities by undermining their legal protections and social inclusion.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
WRONG
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
With sources, please cite the things that I said are wrong.
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Najah P Tamargo
Najah Tamargo-USA
If a group of "Christians" deliberately show up at a peaceful LGBTQ+ rally to spew bigotry and hatered....who were the real terrorists??? Doesn't really show what Jesus teachings were all about....love, peace and acceptence.
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ServantOfJudgement
Your half right Najah. These guys were not following the teachings of The Christ. He does not want his own to behave like the people that started fighting.
Jesus taught choosing things God chooses. He didn't teach acceptance blindly or unconditionally. "Your sins are forgiven, sin no more". That's not unconditional friend. That's strings attached.
Shall we forgive Trump for giving us the poisonous jab when he shows no remorse for it? Do you love and accept President Trump? If not, you should reconsider repeating that pioused platitude.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
God teaches, love your neighbor as yourself. That's all your neighbors, gay, black, pagan or Democratic. God also teaches to let him be the judge, not you.
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ServantOfJudgement
What if I'm pretty hard on myself Mathew? What if I'm a masochist? If I like getting hurt and abused should I do that to everyone? If I beat the heck out of myself should I do that to others?
That's what happens when we quote a document we have no understanding of.
As far as not judging people, the entire spectrum of left has judged President Trump and Vice President Vance. All and every single left thinking person has violated the doctrine they tell the right to follow.
Judge not unless I judge?
By the way, God teaches consequences for actions he hates.
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Michael Hunt
Many of those left thinking people do not follow the doctrine of the Bible so they wouldn't be beholden to it's rules but many of those on the right do claim to follow the doctrine of the Bible but break many of its rules. Left thinking people are pointing out the hypocrisy of the right who claim the moral high ground because of their religion.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
I'm no longer a Christian, though I've read the bible, many, many times and have a strong understanding of it.
The biblical command to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) assumes a baseline of care and respect for oneself, which serves as a guide for how to treat others. It doesn't imply that harmful or self-destructive behavior should be mirrored in relationships with others. Instead, this command calls for a loving and compassionate posture toward both yourself and others.
Key Considerations Context of Self-Love:
The phrase assumes a healthy love for oneself, not one rooted in harm or self-abuse.
If you struggle with self-destructive tendencies, this verse could be seen as an invitation to address those struggles and learn to treat yourself with kindness and dignity.
Masochism and Its Implications:
Masochism, as a psychological or personal inclination, does not override the principles of care and respect in relationships.
Biblical love focuses on seeking the well-being and flourishing of others, which is incompatible with intentionally causing harm.
Healthy Boundaries:
Loving others doesn't mean treating them in ways that replicate harmful patterns. Instead, it involves fostering positive, uplifting, and mutually respectful interactions.
If you're hard on yourself, it may be worth exploring how to extend grace and compassion inwardly as a reflection of God's love for you.
Spiritual Growth and Healing:
If you find this command challenging due to personal struggles, consider it an invitation to seek growth and healing.
Pastoral counseling, therapy, or support from trusted community members can provide tools to develop healthier self-love and, in turn, healthier love for others.
How to Reframe the Command Rather than interpreting the verse as permission to replicate self-harm or harshness toward others, view it as a call to reflect on how you treat yourself and others. Aligning your actions with the values of kindness, respect, and care can bring the verse's spirit to life.
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James Riggle-Johnson
Of course, this group chose this area in Seattle to provoke a reaction from the LGBTQ community. The protesters should not have turned violent, but they did, and as a result, they were arrested. Seattle PD acted as necessary. So, how did they fail to protect the Christian group?
I keep seeing comments on how violent LGBTQ people can be. Well, when you are attacked, beaten, humiliated, and murdered for a century, you learn to fight back. Stop trying to take rights away from one group of people. Stop trying to erase the existence of one group of people. Maybe then we can all live in peace. Christians have been trying to force “indoctrinate” people into their way of living for centuries. It isn’t working.
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Priestess Annie
Exactly. Pretty sure every gay spiritual group I’ve been to I : laugh until I cry, am asked if I need anything, volunteer in my community, have relatable&engaging conversations, and just find a support system. On the latter: I’m told how I have to pay tithes or it’s a sin, need to repent for all my sins, have to force people to come to church because it’s what humans were put here for, dress more nicely, so the only thing you get is judgement and a “bless your heart”
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Lisa Lake
Same old heterosexual, cisgendered, white, pretend Christian, colonizer behavior. You're ideology, beliefs, or rights do NOT give you the right to take away someone else's. The LGBTQIA+ community is in a fight for their freedom and their lives.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Preach sister.
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John P Maher
IGNORANCE SEEMS TO BE THE GREATEST GIFT THE CHRISTIANS GOT FROM THIER WONDERFUL GOD !
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Nope ... hate.
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Patricia Ann Gross
John P Maher,
Please be careful. Not all Christians think the same way. In fact, most Christians I know don't believe what the "bully pulpit" has been teaching. Nobody can claim to know the mind or thinking of God when he made us each so differently. What we all need to do is start looking at what makes us similar rather than how we are different. We might all be surprised. For some reason, the right-wing conservative bible literalists have the loudest voices right now, and that's all anybody hears.
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Rev. Dr. Robin Lynn Frank
This is no different than the 1997 Nazi march in Skokie, IL. While the First Amendment does provide the right to practice ones religious beliefs, it does not provide for the right to intimidate or harass those who do not share that belief. This is not a religious issue. It is nothing more than one group of people attempting to instill fear in those that they hate. while cloaking it under the umbrella of "religious freedom."
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Robert Gagnon
Two radical factions clash, nothing new there. The God squad is obviously looking for a fight going to their perceived enemy's back yard. Best response would be let them babble in tongues (which I find amusing) bring popcorn and enjoy the show, or just ignore them. But, the opposing group just had to turn Rainbow warrior, flags and all. This turned clowns into a legitimate victim. Thank-you for giving them what they wanted. Personally I don't see why a city with these demographics would issue a permit to a group that sounds this radical. Talking about killing people l that don't agree is terrorist doctrine and has no place on public display.
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ServantOfJudgement
You're right Robert, the claiming Christians should not have picked a fight.
We have our 1st amendment which forces municipalities to honor that right.
All done in poor form and God gains zero ground from anarchists claiming to be Christian.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
Who attacked who.
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Nicholas J Page
The Gay community is being attacked once again these are not church people.Because Jesus loves everyone not just a select few .
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Jesus doesn't say a single word about homosexuality.
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ServantOfJudgement
The Bible does and the bible says what it says Jesus says. You can say the Bible is fake but you can't say the bible(Jesus) doesn't talk about homosexual relationships.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Jesus brought a new covenant in the the New Testament and there is no mention of homosexuality in the Gospels.
If you want to site the Old Testament, then you also need to call for T.A.C.O. to be stoned to death for adultery. To allow immigrants into the US, and to clothe, house and feed them. Also, abortion is to be allowed as the Old Testament does not provide explicit commands or prohibitions regarding the practice.
It's all or nothing. No cherry picking.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
So quit your cherry picking
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
First, what cherry picking am I doing? Secondly, I'm a neo-pagan, not a Christian.
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Brian Patrick Molloy
We are all children of the same universe . ✝️
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Daniel Todd Kamm
And I suppose, Wesley Richard Hunt that you knew that after you called a black drag queen the N-word at a trendy 80's bar back in the day, and she took of her pumps and beat you in the head until you were senseless?
Or had your mama already done that when she caught you trying on her pumps when you were 10?
Thanks to Roy and Lawrence for their input, but we do not have "peace officers" in the USA. We have "law enforcement." Which is as far from Andy Griffith as you already know.
I have participated in many protests both actively and as a trainer and legal observer. There are people on both sides who push the envelope... but which laws are actually enforced in an particular situation is somewhat arbitrary.
Bad enough we have to deal with the Wesley's ... I promise to pray for you after the trauma you may have endured.
Peace Out...tk
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Daniel Todd Kamm
I miss things when I ramble...
Beached Lion, please explain:
Why is Seattle "a sewer" ?
Why is there "zero room for coexistence in that environment" ?
Why if you are not an anarchist or socialist [then] leave...?
tk
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Rev. MichaelRS
No. There was not two groups of protesters that clashed.
There was a one group holding a permitted gathering in a public park, the very definition of a " traditional public forum" under the 1st Amendment, when groups protesting them showed up and began to harass them.
These included the LARPing ninjas known as Antifa,l and those that color, if not style, their hair in the fashion of the Joker.
The Christian group was in one location holding their event when those other groups came to them.
If they did not like the message all they had to do was not be there.
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Elizabeth Jane Erbe Wilcox
The better idea would have been for the kkkristians to not try to indoctrinate, groom, and divide the community. What Would Jesus Do? He would not do what those who purport to believe in him did. There’s no love like christian hate.
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ServantOfJudgement
Jesus would have chided both groups and then both groups would crucify him.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Rev. MichaeRS,
Would you feel the same way if a group came into your neighborhood (permit or not) spouting anti-[something you are passionately for]? This is akin to people dressed in white robes and pointed hoods carrying burning crosses coming into a mostly Black neighborhood. What did they expect to happen? I don't care who you are, don't come into my home neighborhood insisting that I am less than human. People have a right to feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
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Rev'd Andrew
This appears to be a false-equivalence. The KKK Act, passed after the Civil War, led to 42 U.S.C. §§ 1985 and 1986, which can be used to detain and charge "people dressed in white robes and pointed hoods carrying burning crosses coming into a mostly Black neighborhood."
Black rights are NOT Gay rights.
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Michael Hunt
Doesn't that seem to be part of the issue though? You're suggesting that Gay people have less rights than Black people. While the two group's fights for equality are very different, the bigotry directed at them does have a lot of similarities.
I can see how the comparison is a bit extreme considering how the KKK was and is significantly more violent in their actions, but both groups expressed the desire to kill their perceived enemies, so there is some equivalence to the comparisons.
Here's Shay's "Biblical Basis for War" manifesto where it calls for the killing of all men who do not yield and adhere to their beliefs: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5026577-Biblical-Basis-for-War/
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Patricia Ann Gross
Thank you, Michael Hunt. You said exactly what I would have. My wording was, "Are you saying that gay people don't have the same rights that Black people do? Isn't that what the Civil Rights Act was all about?"
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Roy S. Thorpe
All groups have the right to peaceful assembly! The catch word is peaceful ! If either gets out of peaceful then a peace officer has to step in!
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Lawrence A. Benson
I couldn't agree more. As an ex-police commander, I know from personal experience that although we have to allow people to express their constitutional rights to "peaceful" protest/demonstration, we have to maintain law and order and the safety of the public.
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Mrknowitall
No surprise here, the Demonic Homosexual crowd doing what they do best, it's either agree with them or be killed, they're such a loving group !
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Pull-eeze! How many gay people do you know? Where does this tripe come from?
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Michael Hunt
How many people were killed at this event? Zero? Hmm... Doesn't seem like they want to kill anyone who doesn't agree with them. Seems like they just want Christians to stop coming into their communities and spreading hateful messages about them.
Meanwhile, just a day ago, gay, Native American actor Jonathan Joss was murdered by his neighbor. They were returning to the site of their home, which had been burnt down after receiving threats for 2 years from people stating that they would burn it down. They had found the skull of their pet and were grieving when a man, allegedly, approached them, yelled homophobic slurs, and then shot at the couple, killing Joss. Despite the constant threats, Texas police did nothing to address them and are so far refusing to call this a hate crime, seemingly contradicting Joss' partner's statement by saying "... currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation."
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rp3n54d98o
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Frances Tebora Watson
Thank you for your comment. My sentiments exactly. Jesus did not have a mob mentality, and He never forced people into the kingdom. ‘…faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of theses is love…’ The second greatest commandment was violated here by the so-called Christians: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ People are not to be bullied into the kingdom under the pretense of prayer. ‘Love covers a multitude of faults.’ People get to choose whom they will serve. We get to RESPECT their choices as long as it does not betray our boundaries. Love is the common theme and needs to be demonstrated. 1Peter 4:8 Mark 12:31 1 Corinthians
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Priestess Annie
They shouldn’t have been in their community. I don’t go to your house and tell you being a man/woman is a sin.
However, violence isn’t right either. If you yell at me, I’m not going to immediately punch you in the face.
It’s not left/right, gay/straight. It’s humans, needing to grow up, and mind their own business. Spread love, not hate. Do not judge. Believe in what you want. People are allowed to be diverse. Learn respect.
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Blake Andrew Tallman
first off im a member of the LGBTQ community and if any group tries to harm us they r in the wrong if these religious fanatics say love but yet hate thier fellow man then they r not anything but ignorant and monkeys without tails we r all one we r born as we r and u cant change that otherwise then that would mean we could force heteroe straight people through the same sick and sadistic conversion therapy that they do to us so in my personal opinion it is always the religious haters who r the problem cause they never leave well enough alone they may have a right to thier religion but they do not have a right to hate kill or maim others with it
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ServantOfJudgement
The Bible is pretty dang clear about this sort of thing. Christians are not to follow a mob or mob mentality. They're not to go out looking for a fight or pick fights. Christians are not to behave as the people who's neighborhood they invaded. Dare I say I doubt the authenticity of their Christianity as much as I doubt the left's so called "inclusiveness and love" authenticity.
Matt Shea knew they were going to be in the neighborhood of antichrists and anarchists who will always resort to violence. The left is willing to burn down their own neighborhoods and kill people. The false teacher put his flock in harms way, potentially a fatal situation.
The Bible says Jesus does not approve and this will have saved exactly zero souls and changed zero minds.
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Daniel Gray
As long as they had the proper permits, they could go there. The KKK has shown up in a Jewish neighborhood in Chicago for a parade and a rally and this went all the way to the Ill Supreme Court and the courts ruled that again, as long as they had the proper permits then like it or not they were allowed to do this.
So if the LGBTQ people caused a fuss or arrests to be made, then they should be held responsible.
Just remember, love them or hate them, they have the same rights as you do.
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ServantOfJudgement
Fully agree Daniel. That said they ought not have picked a flight. Someone could have and eventually will be shot or stabbed or clubbed. We're not supposed to cause agitation or bring anarchy.
Going into a neighborhood filled with people willing to kill over ideology is something good Christians must avoid.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Christians have a long history of killing over ideology: The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, The Witch Trials and so much more.
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Michael G Clifton
The Crusades were the result of Christians being persecuted, murdered and enslaved by Islamist radicals. Read up on your history.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
The Crusades were a series of religious and military campaigns that took place between the 11th and 15th centuries. They were primarily initiated by the Latin Christian Church with the stated goal of reclaiming Jerusalem and other holy sites in the Near East from Muslim control. The causes of the Crusades are complex and rooted in a mix of religious, political, economic, and social factors:
- Religious Motivation Christian Pilgrimages: Jerusalem and other sites in the Holy Land were sacred to Christians. By the late 11th century, reports of Muslim restrictions on Christian pilgrimages inflamed religious sentiment.
Papal Influence: Pope Urban II's call at the Council of Clermont in 1095 emphasized religious duty. He promised spiritual rewards, such as indulgences (forgiveness of sins), to those who joined the Crusades.
- Political Context Byzantine Appeal for Aid: The Byzantine Emperor Alexios I Komnenos requested military assistance from Western Europe to defend against the advancing Seljuk Turks. This plea provided an opportunity for the Papacy to assert leadership over Eastern Christianity and unite Christendom.
Power Dynamics in Europe: European monarchs and nobles saw the Crusades as an opportunity to gain political power, land, and influence in the Middle East.
- Economic Factors Wealth and Trade: Crusaders were motivated by the potential for wealth and resources in the East, including control of lucrative trade routes.
Land and Titles: Nobles and knights saw the Crusades as a way to gain land and titles, especially younger sons who were not heirs to their family's estates.
- Social Factors Knighthood and Violence: The Crusades channeled the military skills of European knights, who often fought each other, into a "holy" cause.
Population Pressure: Europe's population growth put pressure on resources, and the Crusades offered an outlet for expansion.
- Cultural and Ideological Elements Holy War Ethos: The concept of a "just war" was prevalent, and the idea of fighting for one's faith was seen as a noble cause.
Religious Rivalry: There was a growing ideological divide between Christianity and Islam, fueled by centuries of territorial conflicts.
Outcomes The Crusades had lasting impacts, including cultural exchanges, increased trade between Europe and the Middle East, and profound political changes in both regions. However, they also caused immense suffering, fostered religious intolerance, and left a legacy of mistrust between Christians and Muslims.
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Daniel Gray
And Atheists or the ones that dont believe in religion have killed more people in world history by a factor of over 20 to 1. Mao's long march 2. Pol Pot 3.Idi Amin 4. Russian Purges. 5. North Korea just to name a few combined total 4 times the amount of people who died in WW2. So whats your point if you even have one.
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Michael Hunt
If they wanted to kill these people over their ideology, why didn't they? It's not like it's hard to get guns and ammo in America. If they actually wanted to do this, why wasn't this event a mass shooting? Could it be that they actually don't want to kill people with different ideology, they just don't want people saying hateful things about them in their neighborhood? Could it be that you're projecting your hate of the left onto liberals so that lefties become the evil villain in your worldview which therefore justifies your evil actions against them? Questions to think about...
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Robert James Ruhnke
these are the types of cowards who wait for an “open season” clause passed to them by the government of their forming.
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Daniel Gray
You mean like the "morons" that burned their own towns and demanded to have it called a "peaceful" march/protest, or maybe you mean like the morons that kidnapped a 6 block square section of Seattle and raped and then demanded the residents pay taxes to them?
Trying to use a mirror and failing badly I see.
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Michael Hunt
The Capitol Hill Organized Protest in Seattle wasn't raping people or demanding residents pay them taxes. Families were walking through the protest and everyone was having a great time. Where did you get that lie from?
And while violence did happen during those protests, they were almost all instigated by excessive force from police officers against peaceful protesters. There are certainly people who look to take advantage of the situation for looting, but to call people who are being abused by local law enforcement who are supposed to be protecting them "morons" is a complete lack of empathy and distortion of reality.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
Lefties are evil
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Michael Hunt
Really? What makes us evil?
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Daniel Gray
if you have to ask, then you are past educating as all one would have to do to answer this is just watch the nightly news.
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Michael Hunt
Well righties are clearly the evil ones. If you have to ask why then you're clearly stupid because you just have to watch the nightly news to see it. Do you see why this does nothing to support your stance?
Your "evidence" lacks any proof. All you are doing is attacking someone's intelligence instead of engaging in the discussion and supporting your claims.
What nightly news are you watching? Is it the "lefty" news anchors that are evil or is it the stories you're being shown proof that "lefties" are evil? Are you getting your nightly news from an objective news organization or from right-wing propaganda "news" orgs?
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Please cite specific traits that makes Liberals evil.
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Wesley Richard Hunt
Its a known fact that LGBT are violent.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Wrong, LGBTQIA++ individuals are more likely to be the victims than the perpetrators of crimes. Most of the ones I know are quite peace-loving individuals.
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Daniel Gray
WRONG. Tell that to the college kids who had one of you come through and assault him, and then when the campus police tried to arrest her she threw a fit and this was all caught on tape. Or tell this to the family in a Denver city park who was assaulted so badly by the LGBT activists that they had to be taken to the local hospital for treatment and the father actually had to get stitches.
Peaceful Victims my foot.
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Michael Hunt
I could not find any reports of your claims being true.
First off, which college did that occur on? Second, your description of the events are incredibly vague but since this was all caught on tape, I'm sure you can share with me that video.
As for the Denver family, I have found absolutely no evidence of this ever happening. If you do have proof it did, please share it and prove me wrong.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Daniel Gray,
I'm not sure what you meant by "one of you," because I am a straight ally. I stick up for the LGBTQIA+ community because all of the ones I know are now living in fear because it has once again become "fashionable" and "legal" to spew hate about them and exclude them from existence. Wesley made the sweeping comment that "it is a known fact ..." of which he has not provided any reference or proof. I have not known of or met a single member of the LGBTQIA+ community that was either consistently or even episodically violent. I've known a few with mood swings, but if you had to live in the shadows in order to survive, you's be a bit moody too.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
So where's the known fact? Please cite a reference.
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Lion on the Beach
Seattle is a sewer. There is zero room for coexistence in that environment. If you are not an anarchist or socialist than leave, there at great speed.
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Michael Hunt
If Seattle is a sewer, you must have some really nice sewers where you live because it's a beautiful city. Most of the people who live there aren't anarchists or socialists, actually. There's a large coalition of traditional liberals who have the majority of the political power and don't subscribe to more progressive ideals such as socialist policies.
That said, if they wanted to leave so some socialist policies could be enacted, Seattle would be an even better place to live since there'd be more care for the homeless population to help get them back on their feet resulting in less people on the streets, more people would have access to health care so we'd have a healthier population, public transit could be better funded, lots of improvements could be funded, but no, those things aren't happening now,
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Michael G Clifton
Desperately needing to publicly celebrate one’s sexual desires and fetishes is nothing to be proud of, especially for a month. Keep it adult, keep it private like respectable human beings.
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Patricia Ann Gross
If it were about sex, then I would agree. It's not. It's about relationships. These relationships include friendships which can lead to romantic love, which [sometimes] involves sex. If I see a heterosexual couple holding hands, my first thought is not "what do they do in the bedroom?" so why is the hetero community so obsessed it? If your first thought at any couple who appear to be romantically involved goes to what type of sex they have, you really need to get your head checked out.
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John C. Myers
Violent Far Left Democrat nut jobs don’t accept any other opinions and will attack free speech with their Auntie Fays facist allies-who ironically claim to be against facists.
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Michael Hunt
We'll if the opinion is that the community a person belongs to is evil, sinful, and a stain on our country that needs to be eliminated from public view, I wouldn't accept that opinion either. And this isn't a free speech issue because freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences. They were given permission by the government to freely express their opinions and the counter protesters then freely expressed their opinions back. I wish it hadn't turned violent, but those who were violent ended up rightfully arrested.
The Christian group running the event also isn't exactly a peaceful organization either. Per the article, "The Seattle event was organized in part by Matt Shea, former Washington lawmaker turned preacher at On Fire Ministries in Spokane, Washington. You may remember Shea from his manifesto for waging a holy war against Muslims and atheists, and Shea was also in contact with a religious militia teaching young men weapons handling for this very purpose.
Shea’s manifesto endorsed overthrowing the federal government and replacing it with Christian theocracy with bans on abortions and same-sex marriage, as well as 'the killing of all males who do not agree.'"
Here's a link to that manifesto: https://www.spokesman.com/documents/2018/oct/25/biblical-basis-war/
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Patricia Ann Gross
So, if someone comes into your neighborhood and tells the rest of the neighborhood that you are the most evil creature ever created, you don't have the same freedom of speach to speak out in rebuttal? Like Michael Hunt, I am dismayed that it escalated to violence, but freedom of speach is equal on both sides of the arguement.
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Matthew Mastrogiovanni
Unless you're challenging criminals (pedo-priests, convicted felon presidents, animal abusers) people need to leave other people alone. It's called mind your own business. What any consenting adults do in the privacy of their own bedrooms, is no ones business.
Let me get this right… a virulent rightwing nutjob christian organization goes into a known LGBTQ+ community to berate and degrade them for being what god made them, and they DON’T think they’re being provocative? Yeah, ok. One more time for the folks in the back… homosexuality is NOT A CHOICE. Nobody CHOOSES to be gay, especially when many people are ignorant bigots.
You're correct, sexuality and fundamental identity (gender) are NOT a choice. However ignorance and bigotry most certainly ARE a choice.
I agree 100%
One day that Christofascist Nut Job is going to get himself......🪦
You're right about that Katelynne. The left has demonstrate to the point of trust that they will kill. You can rely on it. The left has zero issue with killing for ideology.
You got your directions backwards.
Not so Matthew, Katelynne here just made my case. She said the preacher will get deadman syndrome if he keeps going to lgbtqia++ neighborhoods.
I agree.
Since 2016, data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) indicates that right-wing extremists, particularly white supremacists, have been responsible for the majority of extremist-related murders in the United States. This trend has been consistent across multiple years:
2017: Right-wing extremists were responsible for 59% of extremist-related fatalities, with white supremacists accounting for 18 of the 34 deaths that year.
2018: All extremist-related murders were linked to the far right, marking the highest number of such killings since 1995.
2019: Right-wing extremists accounted for 76% of all domestic extremist-related killings over the past decade.
2022: All 25 extremist-related murders were committed by right-wing extremists, with white supremacists responsible for 21 of those deaths.
2023: Right-wing extremism was linked to all extremist murders in the U.S., including notable incidents in Allen, Texas, and Jacksonville, Florida.
These findings highlight a persistent pattern of lethal violence associated with right-wing extremism, particularly white supremacist ideologies, in recent years.
You lie
Surely you have evidence to prove that these statements are all lies, right?
Prove it Wesley. You must have facts.
I know a guy that chose dudes cause he couldn't get a chick to get busy with.
If you're suggesting that sexual orientation is binary and never a choice, you've violated the lgbtqia++ non binary stance.
Some may not be choice and some may be choice.
There's a term called situational homosexuality. When there's no one of the opposite sex available, (such as your friend, prisoners, sorority girls, and red pill dudes) people turn to what's available until the situation changes.
In jail/prison, the saying is “gay for the stay.” However, under everyday circumstances those people don’t consider themselves gay. Survival methods vary…
With someone who isn't in prison, I'd call it "bisexuality". That's a thing. People keep forgetting it's a sexuality. You got it half right, it is non-binary. There's this thing called "the Kinsey Scale" that is a tool for defining sexuality for research purposes. There are 7 points on this scale, as follows:
0 Exclusively heterosexual 1 Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual 2 Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual 3 Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4 Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual 5 Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual 6 Exclusively homosexual X No socio-sexual contacts or reactions
If your acquaintance prefers women but decided to go after men because of a lack of women, all it takes is a 1 on the Kinsey scale, but everything between 0 and 6 is bisexual. It's like you can't call yourself a vegan if you'll eat a beef burger if there are no black bean burgers available, but you're not a carnivore either.
Of course, the idea that sexuality is a choice is very weird, but if one insists on forgetting that bisexual people exist, I can see how one might leap to that conclusion. Bisexuality is as inborn as homosexuality or heterosexuality. It's simply the part of the spectrum between the extreme ends. Some people explore that actively, other people may never discover it or may not feel a need to explore it if they happen to know. One of my friends is a bisexual who is in a devoted homosexual marriage, so while she might be attracted to a man if she was single, it's a moot point since she's married and loves her wife. That doesn't make her a lesbian, it makes her a settled bisexual.