Kids’ Parade’s fatediscussed by all sides (Gays want in)

The Honolulu Star Bulletin ^ | 07/03/02003 | Craig Gima

[Spyder]

Kids’ Parade’s fate discussed by all sides

By Craig Gima cgima@starbulletin.com

Participants and organizers of this Saturday's Kids' Parade met yesterday in a city conference room to discuss the details of an event that may not take place.

The Hawaii Christian Coalition, which is organizing the parade with city help, has said it will cancel the parade if a federal judge rules today that three gay rights groups must be allowed to march in it.

Members of gay rights groups denied permission to march in the parade also attended yesterday's weekly planning meeting of organizers and participants at Honolulu Hale.

William Woods, of the Gay and Lesbian Education and Advocacy Foundation, asked city Deputy Managing Director Malcolm Tom if the city was considering his organization's offer to sponsor the parade if the Hawaii Christian Coalition pulls out.

"It's all hypothetical," Tom responded. "When it (the judge's ruling) happens, we'll decide then."

After the meeting, Woods said if the city continues to support the parade and if the other participants show up, the event will be a better and more inclusive celebration.

But it was unclear how many of those signed up to march in the parade would show up if the GLEA Foundation was the sponsor.

"It's very confusing over here," said Henry Chu, chairman of the Lung Kong Physical Culture Club, which is scheduled to provide lion dancers for the parade. "I don't side with anybody. I just want to do the right thing for the community."

Mary Esther Correa, of Los Amigos Ballet Folklorico, said she will not bring her students, ages 5 to 17, to the parade if the gay rights groups win in court.

"I'm not against gays and I'm not against any religion, but I don't want to have my students exposed to something that I don't feel is right," she said.

Also yesterday, the city filed an additional argument in federal court to support their position that the gay rights groups can be denied permission to march because the city is not a sponsor of the event.

In court papers, Mayor Jeremy Harris said, "I have directed that the city not provide any support or services for the Kids' Parade that was not provided for the (Gay) Pride Parade" last Saturday.

Harris also said the idea for the parade originated with the Hawaii Christian Coalition.

But American Civil Liberties Union attorney Brent White said the files of city administrator Alvin Au, a co-chairman of the parade, show the city began planning the parade back in April, and at that time the Hawaii Christian Coalition was not listed as a sponsor.

"This (parade) is the city's concept," White said.

Whether the city is a sponsor of the parade is a key legal point because the city cannot discriminate against the gay rights groups.

The ACLU filed the suit against the city on behalf of the three gay advocacy groups that are asking to be allowed to march in the parade.

[Spyder]

Can't think of a better way to further alienate the public than trying to insert your perversion in a kids parade. Considering a huge majority of the state voted to declare marriage as an act between one man and one woman, I'd say the gays are pushing the envelope even more than usual in this one.

[Sabertooth]

"Hearts and minds" ping.

[Mo1]

I'd say the gays are pushing the envelope even more than usual in this one.

Yep ... but then, it would seem that is what they what to happen

[Dan from Michigan]

It's this BS that bugs me more than anything else with the homo lobbies. LEAVE THE KIDS ALONE!

[johniegrad]

I thought the push was for PRIVACY in keeping the government out of the bedroom. Sounds more like they want to impale the public with their bedrooms.

[El Laton Caliente]

I wonder what would happen if say 10,000 fundamentalist church members wanted to march in their gay rights parade...

Just an idea that's time has come... ;^)

[Clint N. Suhks]

Homosexual pedophile link, BUMP!

[Mo1]

they would be attacked for their "hate speech"

[dirtboy]

Why can't these idiots just back off? They just don't care to understand the notion of freedom of association - because they want instead to treat such as discrimination against them.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Reminds me of a little spoiled brat kid that runs around sticking his finger in every person's plate of food, for no reason other than to show that he can.

What's next? A guy in a rainbow wig appearing at every major sporting event, holding a "John 4:69" sign?

[ClearCase_guy]

It's probably inadvisable, but if the Parade is forced to include gays, then maybe some straights should dress up in leather outfits and behave in completely unacceptable ways while in the parade. Show the public that these are NOT folks you want around your kids.

[Dilly]

"They just don't care to understand the notion of freedom of association"

Sounds like they do understand it. If the parade is being sponsored by a private organization, the CC, then that organization gets to decide who's in the parade. But if the parade is (or was originally) a city affair, then state law precludes the city from excluding groups based on political beliefs. Sounds like its the CC that wants "special rights". They should be required to abide by state law just like everyone else.

[FourPeas]

All the while the perverts say it's all about their privacy and rights and all the while they find new a disgusiting ways to flaunt it in the most public way, trampling over every one else's rights.

[FourPeas]

Don't give anyone any ideas.

[Spyder]

Well put.

[Mo1]

Reminds me of a little spoiled brat kid that runs around sticking his finger in every person's plate of food, for no reason other than to show that he can.

EXACTLY!!

[You Dirty Rats]

"Impale"

LOL

[Sabertooth]

"Johnboy 4:69"

Yeah, I definitely sense an urge for proselytizing in these paraders.

[Steely Tom]

They're hoping to touch off some sort of violence that can be pinned on homophobia. That in turn will beget a new round of calls for "increased education at the elementary-school level," "increased funding for homophobia prevention programs at every level of society," "increased funding for diversity studies in all walks of life," etc. etc. ad nauseum.

(steely)

[billbears]

Mary Esther Correa, of Los Amigos Ballet Folklorico, said she will not bring her students, ages 5 to 17, to the parade if the gay rights groups win in court. "I'm not against gays and I'm not against any religion, but I don't want to have my students exposed to something that I don't feel is right," she said.

Oh come on now, Mary Esther. SCOTUS has decided sodomy is acceptable so let's just go ahead and get the children under your care used to the idea. Lord knows a court full of 'conservatives' (not to mention a Congress full of them, and a White House with a 'conservative' in it) four thousand miles away from you know what's best for your state much better than if your own state legislature were to pass a bill condemning sodomy.