Gays and Christians clash at Adelaide rally against homophobia

Peaceful demonstration for same-sex marriage turned ugly when a fringe group of Christian counter-protesters turned up to challenge gay rights in Adelaide.

Around 200 people met yesterday at Victoria Square, before the rainbow flag-waving procession moved off to Parliament House.

South Australian Legislative Council member Ian Hunter addressed the crowd, along with queer youth workers who said youth health and welfare was being threatened by the closure of service projects. Lesbian and Uniting church minister Reverend Sue Wickham conducted a marriage ceremony for ten couples.

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We would never go to their church and disrupt things the way they did today.”

Street Church spokesman Forbes Morrison said preachers were pushed and threatened.

“The homosexuals and lesbians had organised a march to strut their sin down King William Street, and the Christians of Street Church went out to appeal in love to them to repent of their sins and put their trust and surrender in Jesus Christ,” Mr Morrison said.

“A large portion of the sitting crowd of gays aggressively began to push, harangue, curse and threaten the Christian preachers.

As the march began, the Christian preachers led the way in protest, denouncing homosexuality and lesbianism as a crime against God for which those who practice will be damned and go to hell.

Rally organiser Jason Virgo tells Same Same he was shocked to see such disrespectful behaviour from a handful of people purporting to have Christian values yesterday.

“It’s particularly frustrating considering the day was also about marking the International Day Against Homophobia, and that small minority of people are often seen around Adelaide making homophobic and xenophobic statements, claiming to represent God.

He adds: “I blame any violence on Saturday on the street preachers, they set out from the beginning to disrupt and antagonize people from the outset. Police removed two of the street preachers and no one from our community. I think that speaks for itself.”

Virgo says Adelaide’s same-sex marriage supporters will continue to march again in coming months, despite the tension. “We’re not going to let a few nutters stop us.