Man sues after being restricted from passing out Bibles at gay pride parade

[Comet]

You know what I would have told this man? I would have said sure, you have the right and freedom of speech to pass out your bibles at this rally. Freedom of speech is great, is it not? It sure is. And in the name of freedom of speech, we are going to place a bonfire right next to your stand so the people you are handing out these bibles to have the right to exercise their freedom of speech rights.

Not that I condone burning bibles. I do not care for it, but it is a form of freedom of speech and is protected under our Constitution.

The rally organizers were more than fair allowing him a designated section in their rally. They did not even have to do that. And he snubs his nose at that generous olive branch and sues?

Not smart. Now he deserves nothing and to be banned from the event. This lawsuit should be laughed out of court.

A man who has passed out Bibles at a Minnesota gay pride parade for years is suing after city officials restricted him from giving out the book at this year's event.

Brian Johnson, of Hayward, Wis., started handing out Bibles at the Twin Cities Pride Festival in 1995, and three years later, gave out the books in Minneapolis' Loring Park from a booth approved by parade organizers. But in recent years, the people behind the event, which draws as many as 300,000 people, have tried to oust him, first nixing his bid for a booth and then having him arrested in 2009.

Johnson, a taxidermist by trade and an evangelical by calling, sat out last year's event for fear of arrest, according to his attorney. But the legal wrangling has continued behind the scenes, and this year parade organizers, at the suggestion of a federal judge, designated "free-speech zones" on the Pride Festival grounds, where people like Johnson could distribute literature the organizers wouldn't otherwise approve.

Johnson and his attorney reject the policy, which is backed by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Johnson believes he not only has God on his side, but the Constitution, too.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/04/evangelical-christian-files-federal-lawsuit-over-no-pride-policy-at-midwest/#ixzz1r6j7JI00

 

[DodgeFB]

If their "gay pride parade" is like the ones I have seen in the past the whole thing is a joke. I don't see it as doing anything productive for gays.

So in my opinion let them all go on and embarrass themselves.

 

[mogur]

It's just a book. No one should ever be stopped from handing out any book, period. And you would think gay pride organizers would be more respective of the rights of others, considering their own fight for equal rights.

Not only that, but it's a funny book. A book filled with passion, violence, sex, and immorality. If some people want to believe in its tales of talking snakes, fanciful spirits, burning bushes, and cursing a fig tree, then what's the problem? No one is making you change your beliefs by handing out books. They can believe in imaginary friends if they choose to. In this country, that is an absolute right... I hope.

 

[DodgeFB]

It's just a book. No one should ever be stopped from handing out any book, period. And you would think gay pride organizers would be more respective of the rights of others, considering their own fight for equal rights.

Not only that, but it's a funny book. A book filled with passion, violence, sex, and immorality. If some people want to believe in its tales of talking snakes, fanciful spirits, burning bushes, and cursing a fig tree, then what's the problem? No one is making you change your beliefs by handing out books. They can believe in imaginary friends if they choose to. In this country, that is an absolute right... I hope.

Maybe I am just getting old, but I do not feel as free as I once did.