Gay-pride event, protesters rile ballpark crowd (Phila Phillies)

[malachi]

Outrageous policy by the Phillies. I'm not gay, not that there's anything wrong with that, but the Phillies should be ashamed for their handling of this jerkoff Marcavage.

The Phillies found themselves in the middle of the culture war as well as the National League wild-card race last night.

As the Phillies played the Washington Nationals, a confrontation developed in the upper deck at Citizens Bank Park between Repent America, a fundamentalist Christian group, and fans, many of whom were attending the game as part of a gay pride group.

This is the third year for Gay Day, which featured a national anthem performance by the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus and a first pitch from Cyd Ziegler of Outsports.com.

It's also the third year Repent America's Michael Marcavage has attended in protest of the event. Marcavage and another man held a sign that read, "Homosexuality Is a Sin, Christ Can Save You" at the top of Section 303 in right field.

snip:

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."

The Phillies have written policies barring fan behavior "interfering with other guests' ability to enjoy the game," as well as banners that contain "fighting words likely to provoke a breach of the peace."

Both policies, Stiles said, are trumped by Repent America's First Amendment rights.

"On a night when we didn't have the gay community, we wouldn't necessarily permit a sign like that," Stiles said. "A sign expressing an objection to the war would not be permitted because it has nothing to do with baseball."

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12421671.htm

[Rich Hunt]

1. wow, how rude!

How can they let people bring politics into the ballpark?

I'm sure, in their disingenuous way, they'll say it's a 'double standard'. They've been doing the double-standard line for about fifteen years...it's getting old.

And what's funny is that I mistakenly read that as "Miscavige" and thought it was a Scientology article.....

[meganmonkey]

9. Right - because being gay in itself is a pushing an agenda

:sarcasm:

But that's the way people like this fundie think. If it were 'couples night' (I don't know if they have that at baseball games) and it was heterosexual couples it would by just a normal part of american life. But for gay people to go to a baseball game...well, geee whiz! What if throw some gay at my kids?

:puke:

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. The policies are not trumped by first amendment rights in PRIVATE settings

If you come into my house with that asinine banner, I have a policy to throw your ass out. Your first amendment rights don't "trump" that, asshat. This is conservative policy working against you anyway. Just as I don't have the right to distribute anti-war leaflets in a shopping mall, you don't have the right to hold up any old sign at all at baseball game. Public park? Fine. Street? Go ahead. But welcome to the world of protest in just-in-time-capitalism, where property rights always trump free speech rights.

[marbuc]

8. You beat me to it

People claiming their constitutional rights in this way show their idiocy. Once you pay to enter an establishment, or enter private property, constitutional rights of free speech vanish, you have to abide by the rules set forth by that property owner. Like you mentioned, fundies do not have the right to enter my house and spew their hateful rhetoric.

[BR_Parkway]

12. Want to see heads explode? Go to their church, then hold up a sign

that says something like "I'm gay 'cause God made me this way".

You'd find out how quickly they backtracked right off that 1st Amendment stuff.

[noonwitch]

18. I like your idea

As I'm not gay, my sign would read "We are all children of God".

[xchrom]

3. the question of the phillies aside

it's time for gay people to take protests to conservative churches directly.

if the conservative christian community is going to haunt us -- then it's past time to haunt them in return -- and i'm guessing the ingenuity of gay people will trump any thing conservative christians can come up with and we can turn the heat up several, several degrees.

[sui generis]

4. Fine - let's give them a taste of their own medicine

Repent America - Go To Hell You Bigots
Repent America - Why Do Gays Scare You?
Repent America - Obsessed With Gays
Repent America - Free To Be Bigots
Repent America - Go To Hell Again
Repent America - May Your Children Be Gay

how's that for First Amendment Rights.

[sniffa]

7. thank you

we shouLd start protest these fuckers. x(

[sui generis]

5. And I have another idea

Use their logo. It's not for profit, and using it won't interfere with their profit, so put it on signs and own it. Repent America, a Gay Organization.

Repent America Wants You to Be Gay

Repent America - Recruiting Gays

Repent America - Because Being Gay is Fun

Repent America - Happy Hour from 6:00 - 10:00

Repent America - Topless Dancers, 2 Drink Minimum.

[zbdent]

6. When's the last time a ballpark is considered public property?

Is it really public property when you have to pay someone to enter?

I know that malls are allowed to throw you out at their discretion - private property.

How many baseball parks (or sports venues) are considered public property?

The ballpark has their right to toss you out for breaking their rules. Just try to prove otherwise . . .

[patcox2]

15. How about when its owned by the city?

Really, lets be consistent.

However, they are still wrong to say that they have to allow the banner. Its a place of public accomodation, which means it cannot discriminate, but that does not at all mean it has to allow anyone to hang banners, that is a misstatement of consttutional first amendment law, there is nothing that says people must be allowed to hang banners in stadiums, courthouses, or anywhere else but on their own property and places analogous to the "public square." A baseball stadium is not the publci square.

[sakabatou]

10. "Bigotry is a sin; save yourself."

[MalibuChloe]

11. That's like having an African-American night...

and letting the KKK sit next to them.

:mad:

[July]

13. Don't get that last part.

"A sign like that" wouldn't be permitted when the gay community wasn't present? Huh? It's inflammatory EXCEPT when those being told they're sinners are present?

And "a sign expressing an objection to the war would not be permitted because it has nothing to do with baseball"? So "homosexuality is a sin" and "Christ can save you" have what, exactly, to do with baseball? How would a pro-war sign fare?

[tk2kewl]

14. So when they have Latino Day can the latinos expect others

to have signs that say: "Go Home @#%! (insert racial epithet here)!" ?? :wtf:

:grr: Unbelievable! :grr:

[VegasWolf]

16. So when they have Christian Day, can the Jewish and Muslim show up with

signs that say "Jesus was just another prophet, u idiots!"

[Seabiscuit]

17. Boycott Phillies games!

Hypocritical fuckwads.

[malachi]

20. Hypocritical fuckwads is to soft a term for the Phillies org.

At their games you are not allowed to hold up a sign that is critical of the team or organization. You and your sign will be removed. It's ok to hold up hate filled signs. They are really rw conservative, as are most pro sports teams. They had a salute to the troops night last year, complete with that lee greenwood song?, that would have made Leni Refinstal proud. I prefer to call them fuckin' jitbags.

[Megahurtz]

19. Behond Fucking Rude!

I really have to think that there is something really wrong with people who are so blatently paranoid about Gays.:crazy:

[Moderator]

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[getmeouttahere]

22. NOT that we would want to, but....

would bigots have a right to express "another opinion" on African-American Night, or Cinco De Mayo, at the ballpark? I don't remember anyone expressing another opinion at "Hot Pants Night" back in the 70's.

[Bleacher Creature]

23. Holy crap -- I was THERE!!!

I live in DC and went to Philly to see the Nationals and to see the new stadium. When I walked up to the gate, I saw a small group of fundies protesting the Phillies for their decision to hold "Gay Day" In all honesty, I didn't think much of it because I just assumed that the event was in the future. Also, they were really freaky and I saw no point in confronting them.

I don't really have a point, but I was definitely there.

On Edit: And NO, I won't be going back after reading about this crap by their front office.