Gay Pride Supporters,Protesters Clash(City of Brotherly Love)

www.foxsports.com ^ | 8/19/05

[hercuroc]

As the Phillies played the Washington Nationals, a confrontation broke out in the upper deck of Citizens Bank Ballpark between Repent America, a fundamentalist Christian group, and fans, many of whom were in attendance as part of a gay pride group. It's the third season for Gay Day in Philly, featuring a national anthem performance by the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and a first pitch from Cyd Ziegler of Outsports.com.

But as the Inquirer points out, it is also the third season Repent America's Michael Marcavage has attended in protest of the event. Marcavage and another fan held a sign in the outfield that read, "Homosexuality Is a Sin, Christ Can Save You."

At one point, fans stood in front of the sign to essentially block the message. Eventually, officers from the Philadelphia Police Civil Affairs division flanked Marcavage and his unidentified companion.

"This is totally offensive to me," said James Duggan, a fan who stood several rows in front of the sign and engaged Marcavage in debate. "These people are false Christians. I was told the Phillies' lawyers arranged this with Repent America's lawyers, and I find that totally offensive, too." "It's pretty clear under the Constitution," Stiles said, "that if you're going to have a gay community night, people have the right to express another opinion. We understand it's distressing for some people to have to look at that sign. We believe the leaders of the gay community who arrange this night like any other group know what they're going to have to put up with." Marcavage and his companion rolled up their sign in the sixth inning, which prompted cheering from surrounding fans. The two were booed and showered with obscenities as they were escorted out of the ballpark's grandstand area by police officers and Phillies' officials.

[Big E]

That's easy, Ed Wade and the rest of the idiot Phillies braintrust. The worst damn management in baseball. Probably less wins per dollar spent than any team in baseball. But we're politically correct, we have Gay Day! I'd rather have Win Day. Lost 11-2 to the crummy Pirates, when will we be rid of Ed Wade?