CLEVELAND — It’s a first for Geauga County: A Gay Pride celebration coming to Chardon’s Town Square as part of a national celebration of the LGBTQIA community. But the event is not without its critics who say it doesn’t belong in the conservative county.
Organizers say the event is long overdue and it was inspired in 2016, when a gay pride flag flown outside the Community Church of Chesterland was repeatedly stolen. At the time, people near and far rallied behind the church, sending it flags and encouraging the church to do more.
That’s when church leaders began thinking about sponsoring a gay pride event. But the COVID-19 pandemic sidelined those plans.
The church’s social justice coordinator, Megan Carter, said the flag inspires some in the community.
“We have new people to the community who have said, ‘thank you so much for being a pillar of hope as I drive by the church,’” she said.
Recently, a group of religious leaders from Geauga County churches complained to city officials about the event, claiming without evidence the event will be harmful to children. The letter was sent to city officials.
Lifelong Geauga County resident and activist Mary Briggs is behind the June 18 celebration and is disappointed but not surprised by the reaction.
“I am a Christians and they didn’t reach out to me and much of the language in the letter is not in my heart and there was a lot of dog whistles for them to be incendiary,” she said.
The letter also attacked the Community Church of Chesterland for sponsoring the event. The church's leader, the Rev. Jess Peacock, said the letter underscores the need for gay pride events.
“That letter demonstrates that within more conservative theological churches, there is an intense animosity toward the queer community,” he said. “What it is, though, is a reminder that we have a lot of work to do.”
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