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.

[I still care]

With banners from Romans and Leviticus? Canada has already banned parts of the bible as hate speech. But it might be an interesting afternoon.

I think going to a gay pride parade as "Citizens standing up for the Traditional family" would be an eye opener. We could all come in costume as Ozzie and Harriet.

[Eaker]

I see some votin' going on.

If decency doesn't kick in, then it may need kick starting.

Eaker

[ArGee]

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.

If this is a kids' parade, why is sexuality an issue at all?

If the gay rights groups care about the kids, they will leave their sexuality at home and simply come be part of the fun.

But they can't leave their sexuality at home, because it is what defines them. They are lost without it. It's a part of the sickness.

If they are allowed to march, those of you in Hawaii should leave your kids at home and line the roads with signs and banners sharing Jesus' willingness to forgive all sinners, including homosexuals.

Shalom.

[Travis McGee]

What's that line from Led Zep?

When the levee breaks, got no place to run?"

Or in the words of Bob ZImmerman: Hard rain's a gonna fall.

[Ronin]

They gays are not thinking about hearts and minds, they have their eyes set decidedly lower.

[wardaddy]

These folks are apt to reap a windfall that haven't foreseen....or they are damned naive.

[DAnconia55]

ping

Not sure what to say.
I don't understand how they'd have legal standing to be in the parade, and I don't know anything at all about Hawaii law.

If you ask me, the gay organizers need their asses kicked because they're just trying to cause trouble. A 'friendly' visit by some of the fathers at about 1 AM should do the trick.

That said, this has no bearing on the SC ruling.

[Hildy]

You're late to that idea. Here in San Diego Roger Hedgecock started a Straight Pride movement and demanded we be able to wear our shirts and march in the Gay Pride Parade. It was pretty funny.

[Hildy]

You're late to that idea. Here in San Diego Roger Hedgecock started a Straight Pride movement and demanded we be able to wear our shirts and march in the Gay Pride Parade. It was pretty funny.

[DAnconia55]

Gays in our society are like a tiny drop of black ink in a bucket of water -- sooner or later all the water in the bucket turns black.

Hmmmm... now Where have I heard such a similar description before. Hmmm...

[Mr. Silverback]

YEEEEESH Bump!

[skr]

"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... ;^)"

And a very good one at that. It would be very interesting to see what would happen.

[randog]

But if the parade is (or was originally) a city affair, then state law precludes the city from excluding groups based on political beliefs.

Zackly, and I'm surprised that the city is so confused about what to do. It's not the law banning gay discrimination that has them tied up in knots, it's the Law of Unintended Consequences that's mucking things up.

[randog]

Here in San Diego Roger Hedgecock started a Straight Pride movement and demanded we be able to wear our shirts and march in the Gay Pride Parade. It was pretty funny.

Were they allowed to march in the parade?

[Hildy]

No.

[VOA]

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.

Yes, that's the same ACLU that advocates in court for the interests of
The North American Man-Boy Love Association (aka NAMBLA).

Of course, I'm not accussing the adult homosexuals that disdain NAMBLA...
but just thought it was good to mention "The Rest Of The Story".

And they say they aren't after our kids...

[sweetliberty]

Sounds like the queers want 2 parades even if it means the kids get none. If I had a group of kids scheduled to march in the parade, I'd pull them if the fags won.

[sweetliberty]

"it would seem that is what they what to happen"

You're exactly right Mo. They don't want to just be left alone to practice their perversion. They want to drive normal people into the closet. If they can't expose our kids to their perversion, then they'll prevent them from having events. Such tolerance.

[Spyder]

Here's the better of the two Sunday stories on the parade.

Gay advocates protest parade

I rather like the parade participant who yelled out at one of the protestors, "I didn't come and shout down your parade last week!"