Date: October 11, 2005
From: Philadelphia Gay Pride
Re: Repent America, Michael Marcavage

Apparently rejecting the Gospel message of Matthew 5: 38-45 to "turn the other cheek", Repent America and its leader Michael Marcavage have amended their civil rights lawsuit filed against the City of Philadelphia for their arrests at Outfest 2004 to include Philly Pride Presents Inc. (Philadelphia's gay pride organization), Fran Price (executive director) and Charles Volz (senior adviser). Alleging that Philly Pride, Volz and Price "conspired with the defendant City of Philadelphia and the other defendant to interfere with plaintiffs and to ensure that plaintiffs did not have the opportunity to engage in their constitutionally protect [sic] activities" seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Fran Price, executive director of Philly Pride, said she was surprised by the lawsuit, which was transmitted via facsimile two days before Outfest 2005 [10/9/05], but not by its timing. "It's no coincidence that this was sent to me two days before this year's Outfest. I guess it was intended to harass me and force me to act in a certain way. Talk about trying to suppress constitutional rights! Can you imagine the director of a gay community group directing the Philadelphia police to do anything?"

Chuck Volz, senior director of Philly Pride, underscored the hypocrisy of Repent America. "Ít's so typical of what I call 'cafeteria Christians' to pick and choose what parts of the Gospel message they apply. While they apply the biblical passages on homosexuality strictly - none of which are Christ's words — they reject the actual words of Jesus delivered after the Sermon on the Mount 'But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well.' What a bunch of hypocrites! Talk about loving your enemies. It's more like loving your enemies' bank accounts!"

Price and Volz originated the "pink angels" — pink Styrofoam sheets to block anti-gay signs - and the use of whistles to drown out loudspeakers, are clearly perplexed at being sued for their use of their First Amendment rights to compete with Repent America. "I thought we could use our signs to compete with their signs and our whistles to compete with their loudspeakers. I thought we had First Amendment rights as well!" said Fran Price. Volz said that the Repent America can't compete with the counter measures employed by Philly Pride. "It now appears that if the gay community uses their constitutional rights they will be subject to recriminatory lawsuits." Volz, a lawyer and a single father of a 16 year old daughter and a 13 year old son, warned "Make no mistake about it, a federal civil rights lawsuit is serious business. You can win the suit and the attorney fees can bankrupt you. I guess I'd better worry about my kids being homeless so that Michael Marcavage can move into my house."

For further information, please contact Fran Price, Philly Pride Presents, at 215-875-9288, or phillygaypride@aol.com.