From the counter protest
Posted on 05/02/2004 9:31:30 PM PDT by writer33
SEATTLE _ Hundreds of pro-gay protesters tried to shout down religious leaders speaking against gay marriage to a crowd of thousands gathered at Seattle's baseball stadium Saturday.
Protesters gathered in the stands after chanting and waving signs at participants as they arrived for the rally at Safeco Field.
An estimated 20,000 people attended the "Mayday for Marriage" worship service and rally, organized by conservative Christian churches around the state in support of heterosexual marriage. The estimate was made by "Mayday for Marriage" marketing director John Kelly, who said 14,200 people went through the turnstiles and "a lot of others" went through open gates. The Seattle Police Department did not have a crowd estimate.
"This is a place where we're taking a stand," James Dobson, founder of the evangelical Christian group Focus on the Family, told the crowd. "If this (gay marriage) happens, the culture war is over and everything associated with it is lost."
As participants arrived in busloads, they had to walk between sign-carrying protesters lining the sidewalk outside the stadium in this liberal city.
Gay rights protesters showed up outside the stadium, waving signs and chanting "Bigots go home!" as they marched. Police estimated the crowd at between 2,500 and 3,000 at its height. A 16-piece marching band performed and passing cars honked in support.
The gay-rights supporters exchanged views with rally participants as police officers worked to control the crowd. One man about 65 years old was arrested for obstructing when he refused to obey a police order, police said.
Many of the gay-rights supporters were angry at the people entering the left-field gate at Safeco for the rally. "We are not second class," one sign read. "God is not a bigot," another sign said. "Homophobia is a disease. Get vaccinated!!" another sign read.
As the crowd departed the rally, a handful of protesters stood outside and chanted, "Teach love, not hate." One protester carried a sign that said, "They thought Hitler was a Christian, too." One protester told some departing rally-goers, "Goodbye Nazis."
The nearly three-hour rally and worship service included music and a choir.
Ken Hutcherson, pastor of Antioch Bible Church of Redmond, emphasized the reason for the rally.
"Don't change what our great and mighty father has created," he said. "The laws of God still stand. The only way to have a child is to have a marriage between a man and a woman. The most positive thing in all society is a marriage between a man and a woman."
Bill Hanford, 46, of Redmond, a member of Hutcherson's congregation, agreed.
"We believe marriage was designed for a man and a woman," Hanford said.
From the counter protest
Winners: Traditional Values folks come across as polite and good-natured. Pics of young tattood mother with husband and child listening to Dobson breaks the Barbie & Ken stereotype.
Losers: The Homosexual Marriage crowd that demures "we only want our rights, and we don't want to hurt traditional families" lost credibility when their verbal attacks on rally participants were reported. "Someday Christians will be a minority!" "Half of you bigots will get divorced!" The presence of young children (including my 9 year old daughter)at the event did nothing to temper the behavior of the homosexual activists.
My 2 cents.
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