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http://www.family.org/cforum/fnif/news/a0034738.cfm

Hymn-Singing Christians Fight Back
by Stuart Shepard, correspondent

Some evangelists face a possible 47 years in prison for doing nothing more than showing up at a gay pride event.

Eleven Christians facing prison time for singing hymns at a Philadelphia gay pride event are fighting back with a federal lawsuit challenging the charges against them.

Members of "The Philadelphia 11," as the group has been dubbed, face as many as 47 years in prison. Their ordeal began in October at a pro-homosexual event called OutFest, where—amid rainbow balloons and shirtless gay men in leather—Michael Marcavage and 10 others peacefully delivered a Gospel message.

But the event's volunteer homosexual security team, the Pink Angels, corralled the group with large sheets of Styrofoam while blowing whistles to drown out their voices.

"Although these people with the pink signs (were) blocking our message and impeding our way, we (were) the ones being put under arrest," Marcavage said. "We were doing nothing more than being very peaceful, very loving, just concerned about the well-being and salvation of those in attendance of the event."

Marcavage was charged with five misdemeanors and three felonies, which included ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting a riot. But the American Family Association Center for Law and Policy (CLP) is filing suit in federal court to stop the case in the state courts—not a common practice.

"It's very rare," said Joe Murray, a CLP staff attorney. "It doesn't happen on a daily basis. It only is justified when the facts warrant it."

Murray especially objects to the charge of ethnic intimidation, saying the city is using the legal system to muzzle a constitutionally protected message.

"What that says is that, basically, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to homosexuals is tantamount to a hate crime," he explained.

A victory, he added, would send a message to other cities to not tread on the rights of those who stand up for the Gospel.

Marcavage said in spite of the recent charges, he and the others will continue to do evangelism at pro-homosexual events in Philadelphia.

The preliminary hearing on the charges in state court is Dec. 14.