Hate speech mars gay festival

2008-04-21 09:38

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Knysna - The organisers and supporters of the Pink Loerie Mardi Gras in Knysna were furious over boycott threats against the festival and enterprises involved in it.

The festival, which is very popular in gay circles, is taking place from May 1 till 4 and is celebrating its eighth anniversary.

Pastor Jerome Nel of the Garden Route Christian Centre and Ridwaan Omar of the Knysna Muslim Association already objected to the festival on behalf of these organisations.

"All God-fearing people have raised their opposition to the festival. The Constitution of South Africa allows you freedom of sexual orientation but that doesn't mean you have to rub our noses in it," Omar wrote in an e-mail to one of the organisers, while in the past Nel had called the festival "a horror and a blatant rejection of the word of God".

Gay people's human rights

The festival's founder and organiser Juan Lerm said they had always experienced some measure of opposition against the Pink Loerie festival but that it had increased this year.

"There have always been people that don't approve of the festival but this year tactics like hate speech and blackmail have been used," Lerm said.

He already had made an appointment with his lawyers as he believed that the threats were hate speech and that they impinged on gay people's human rights.

He also planned to take these charges to the Human Rights Commission.

- Beeld

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Isn't it great to see muslims and christians united in their hatred... glad they finally found someone else they can target. as for "rubbing their noses in it": if they don't want to watch the parade, they can stockpile food for the weekend and hang out at home. no-one is forcing them to see the parade. why can't they just be happy for knysna, that the festival brings in much needed revenue for the rather slow winter period! get over your bigotry and hatred! apartheid is over! conservatives lost!

They want to be normal members of society but then they want to hold these parades celebrating how different they are. It's not like heterosexuals hold parades celebrating heterosexuality. I think gays want to feel special and be in the spotlight all the time, but then you can't be "normal". Geez, you can't have your cake and eat it too.

Ridwaan Omar should take a feather out of his own hat. I have to deal with all this Halaal certified food at every resturant I go to, and praying everytime I go to a wedding (even though the couples are about as religious as my fish). Gay people also have to have their noses rubbed in the fact that straight people can work around openly in public without bein g gawked at. It's time for all Religions to focus on their own short commings before pointing fingers at minority groups.

H - have you ever considered that straight people do not treat gay people "normally"? do yourself a favour and google these names: 'matthew shephard' and 'zoliswa nkonyana'. then you'll see why it is STILL important for gay people to stand up proud as a community. you don't need a "straight parade" because you've never had to go through the hell of coming out and being persecuted. now go and google my friend. expand your mind.

The Muslims and the christians should remember that God is a God of love an not hate and that in the bible it says you shouldn't judge people because that is God's duty. People that judge will have their judgement one day! STOP being hypocrites and practice what you preach. as for the previous headed "What's up with the gays?" stop living in the dark ages and realise it's just a parade as do the workers of SA have and on June 16th. If you don't like it close your eyes!!

Christians and Muslims should look at their own faults before judging others...judge not lest ye be judged yourself. I mean really, let the gays be and enjoy themselves as well as bring in revenue for Knysna. Freedom is what we have in this country but it seems a the religious sects try to stop this freedom as far as they go. Grow up will you!!!!

Why do people feel they have a right not to be offended? Gay rights, hate speech laws, diversity, political correctness- can't people see how bad this is for freedom of speech?! I feel there is no, i repeat NO! reason why words or opinions should be banned. Let the muslims and christians say what they want, let the gay community say what they want, that's what freedom and democracy stands for, the only sensoring of words that is reasonable is the individual's choice.

Why the hell bring religion into the argument? Pastor Jerome Nel, there is no God. Let the homos do whatever the hell they want. It's not like they're having a but-gangbang in the middle of the road. People have the right to express themselves and this is the least of our world's problems. It looks like being a homo is being a satanist now as well. We humans are virusses with shoes.

Under apartheid Homosexuality was punishable by up to 5 years in jail or hard labour. Pride in any form is about remembering the past, and hoping for a better future. These laws were partly due to supremist views heralded by whites and was influenced by the moral order of the church. Heaven forbid if we should ever revert to that situation again!

I am sure that Pastor Jerome Nel of the Garden Route Christian Centre and Ridwaan Omar of the Knysna Muslim Association received multiple requests from their members that this kind of festival is not inline with their believes. Saying that I want to stress that they cannot expect people to support their next bazaar with sloppy "koeksisters" and "halaal" pork boerewors rolls. Yes, I admit there is a difference, but leaving believes out of it, they are both "awareness" festivals.

It seems to me this festival is good for the economy of Knysna and is enjoyed by people of all persuasions. But of course this must be opposed by some arrogant pinheads who expect the entire world toe toe the line as desired by their chosen invisible friend. I think Pastor Jerome Nel ought to move in with the Phelps clan and Ridwaan Omar could become roomies with Osama. That way we all come out happy.

Such a pity to see that christians, muslims and all those people opposing the festival being labelled as God-fearing people. Maybe that is where the problem comes from, rather be God-loving people and accept that these things are happening. It is the year 2008 afterall.

At last some words of wisdom. Well put AJ. Who gives a damn about who says what and who does what? As long as it's all within the rights of all groups concerned, all's fair in love and war. let's rather try to do something about murder, rape & assault. Let the gays continue to be gay and the religous groups continue to be religous.

Please go ahead and read the whole of the chapter about judge not lest ye be judged(Mathew 7). The very same chapter later calls the Christian to discern from unconverted or wolves in sheep's clothing by judging them according to the fruit they produce. You see God is a God of Love; however if He is to love what is good He is too hate what is evil. And he clearly states: homosexuality is a abomination to Him.

To everyone shouting 'judge not!': I say to you twist not scripture lest ye be like satan. You are twisting scripture because the very same chapter that starts judge not calls us to 'know them by their fruit'.

Freedom OF religion also implies freedom FROM religion. Thankfully the bible is not the highest law of the land, the constitution is. And that says that gays have the freedom to march in the streets if they so choose. Live and let live. Isn't it a sin to judge? Not everyone on the entire planet believes in the bible, Kenneth. Doesn't that make you want to wage anaother holy war and kill people in the name of God?

I am a Christian with gay & lesbian friends. How dare these men get so cruelly involved. It makes me ashamed to call myself a Christian. It is their right to have their parades just as it is ours as heterosexuals. We have our days of celebration and public holidays, being straight or in our religion...gays don?t have a public holiday for coming out. Remember Pastor Nel, the Israelites were persecuted for centuries and by many, look at how their enemies were punished for years after!

Go and read your bible or whatever text you refer to, in Genesis God created Adam and Eve NOT Adam and Steve, personally I just think it is unnatural for 2 people of the same sex to be together other than in friendship. But that is just my view. God intended for a man and woman to be together, or did I get that part wrong? But let me not judge, but don?t start crying when you are judged. The choice is yours to make.

PLEASE could you show me in the bible where the exact words "homosexuality is a abomination to Him" PLEASE i would love to see that. The only thing that the bible says is that no man shall lie next to another man and that can be taken in any context. It is 2008 and GOD knows that us a humans are not perfect and things do happen, everyone lies, cheats, gambles, gossips all things that God does HATE and he is not going to send to hell for that. That is why Jesus died on the cross for us!Get over it

Having buried John Daniels - 2x PL drag queen - Ps Nel cannot be labled a gay hater. Where were the gay community at John's death bed? The Christians were there in his hour of need! A large percentage of Knysana residents want the gay parade through our main street stopped as we are paying for it weather we agree with it or not! Juan Lerm the PL organiser is not a Knysna resident and he and his private company makes money out of this venture. Very few local businesses benefit! DH

To all the people passing judgement on Pastor Jerome what the news paper forgets to inform you is that it was Pastors Jerome and Lynne that where there when the drag queen was dying not his so called friends. It was Pastor Jerome that did his funeral. So who showed the Love of God was it not Pastor Jerome the very one being accused.

Luckily for us, the Constitution that grants women the vote, non-white people equal rights, religious faiths respect, gay people equal rights, et al, neatly wraps everything up and allows hate-speech to be dealt with by the Courts. Small minded bigots and zealots can freely join the queue to the podium, behind other small-minded folk and, as long as they do not fall foul of the Law on hate-speech, rant all they like. We, of course, are free to listen, respect, and ignore them.

Religious extremests are becoming more and more common in South Africa and the fact that they are SO narrow minded is a VERY dangerous sign. Conservative religious beliefs are the source of so much evil carried out in the world today. As for the Knysna Loerie festival - I think religios groups are shoving their sensitive noses where they do not belong. EB

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