Date: February 17, 2005
From: Philadelphia Gay Pride
Re: Repent America, Michael Marcavage

Matthew's Gospel warns against false prophets who come "in sheep's clothing but are as ravenous as wolves." Matthew 7, 15:20.

On February 17, 2005, Hon. Pam Dembe dismissed all charges against Michael Marcavage and three others arrested by Philadelphia Police at our Outfest 2004. They had come with bullhorns and 12 foot high signs calling gays abominations, but Judge Dembe apparently believed that issues protected by the First Amendment were present.

We strongly believe in the safeguards of the First Amendment, but, call us skeptics, but we really doubt that the framers meant to protect fringe individuals who actually believe that the government should kill homosexuals:

"According to the Scriptures, it's the government's job to enforce God's law and to uphold the law, and the Bible talks about how, I don't want to really get into this — it'll make me sound like I'm crazy — but it does talk about how [homosexuals] are to be put to death. The wages of sin is death. But I want to make [it] clear that I'm not advocating the [independent] killing of homosexuals...I'm saying that the government's duty is to uphold God's law ...I know that's harsh, but we have all broken the law, God's law, and we need to be held accountable."

Judge Dembe apparently was deceived by the sheep's clothing, and she has unwittingly released the wolves back on the gay community, who must now prepare for more bashing, and perhaps worse. People who advocate the government killing of gay individuals are ill, whether or not they profess to be "Christians." Marcavage and his ilk should be pitied if they are acting out sexual identification issues, but we ignore them at our peril.

Any questions, please call Franny Price at Philly Pride Presents 215-985-9288