Comments on: Conservative Va. church takes aim at Pride event

By: mike rawlings

mike rawlings — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:53:02 +0000

Easy-peasy: you promise to keep 100s of LGBT people out of his church if he stays out of your LGBT event. Works like a charm…but be willing to get your friends to make the show if needed. God bless the USA and free speech

By: Arlene Ladusky

Arlene Ladusky — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:27:36 +0000

The pride event doesn’t reflect Elkton’s values but apparently religious zealots do. I’m going to have to reread the Constitution to find the part that says everyone has a right to free speech provided everyone agrees with what’s being said.

By: Larry Stroupe

Larry Stroupe — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 03:57:51 +0000

I think you and I would probably get along famously :)

By: Larry Stroupe

Larry Stroupe — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:55:14 +0000

I am a gay man who would like to take opposition with some of Ron Johnson’s statements contained within this article. I live and grew up in neighboring Luray, I am openly gay and have been my entire 33 years living here, people aren’t afraid here that’s silly. Sure you will have to deal with the occasion fag or queer but hell I deal with more of that when I come to the city than I do here. Please Mr. Johnson the fear card is not an issue in this area in my openly gay opinion. Secondly, I have debated on the Stop Elkton Pride page with this pastor quite a bit and to say that he deletes comments as a “censorship” is total BS. I have never seen him delete anything except for what he stated to the Blade he deletes, which is his right. I have seen and read more hatred and gross miscarriages of opinion expressed by the gay community than by anyone supporting this church, and by the way I have seen Mr. Homer delete comments from his supporters as well. Mr. Johnson created a public facebook page about this event, he has that right. Mr Homer created a public facebook page in opposition to this event he has that right. Mr. Johnson should be thanking this church and pastor, it is because of them he got his name and story out there, it is because of them he will have a larger turnout at this event, it is because of them Mr. Johnson is having his 15 minutes of fame.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:35:15 +0000

I have been gay all my life (yep, I never played str8) and I’ve never felt vilified. I think you’re being a bit overly dramatic… but, thanks str8 guy (cough, cough) for your support even though everyone, including libertarians and the folks at the Bible Holiness Church, have a right to free speech and the unfettered exercise thereof.

By: laurelboy2

laurelboy2 — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:14:27 +0000

I’m still confused. You claim to have had not much to do with the event, but this article portrays you as right in the thick of it. Do you think Phil Reese did a poor job reporting YOUR story??

By: Rob J

Rob J — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:07:01 +0000

I did not take it as a hate comment at all. You had a justified question. It basically was a bunch of confusion from the start. After everything has settled some, I simply wanted to try to alleviate some of the confusion with this story.

By: Rob J

Rob J — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 21:04:52 +0000

When all of this first broke there was a lot of confusion as to what was going on, who was saying what, who was doing what, etc etc. At one point I simply washed my hands of the whole mess and said the heck with it. After things settled a little and everyone started realizing exactly what was happening and what was being said, I decided that the word needed to get out on the truth as to who was actually organizing this event and why. My resignation was rejected by the board of SVGLA and I still hold my position of Vice President in the organization. The reason for the public notice on the Elkton Pride page was because since the story broke, myself as well as another board member had been literally bombarded with requests for interviews and comments as the organizers of the events. That comment was to let everyone know that I had nothing to do with the organizing or planning so stop calling me.

By: Mountain

Mountain — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:49:46 +0000

A local pentecostal church wants attention. Rather than fight poverty, racism, violence against women, alcoholism, adultery or divorce in their own heterosexual relationships (cough cough), or any other real problems in their community, they choose to beat up on perhaps the most vilified group possible, homosexuals. How brave of them. While I am straight myself, I am a libertarian politically, and a former christian myself. Actions just like this are exactly the reason I have rejected their religion, why I support freedom of thought, why I support peaceful consentual relationship between adults including homosexuality, and why I oppose any effort to bully, intimidate, or incite violence against people who are our friends and neighbors in the name of religion.

By: Pam

Pam — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:44:52 +0000

And the above comment is not meant to be construed as a “hate” comment in no means. I’m just confused as to what made you resign.