Roughly a dozen demonstrators on Monday
protested an event held in Canton, Ohio related to Gay Games 2014, a
sports and cultural festival slated to take place next August in
nearby Cleveland and Akron.
Holding signs which read “Gay Games
Not Welcome Here” and “Darkness is no Substitution for Light,”
the protesters lined the streets outside the Gervasi Vineyard where
an informational event called Gay Games Buzz was taking place.
“Our understanding is the businessmen
of the area are trying to decide how to cash in on this,” Keith
Stephens, pastor at Grace Fellowship in Perry Township, told the
CantonRep.com.
“We are just here to say we have biblical values. Certainly, one
of the thoughts is, 'Come on guys, just for the dollar?' We are
certainly more comfortable if our community wouldn't encourage this.”
Christopher Kuhn, who helped organize
the event, said that the Gay Games were “about acceptance.”
“The Gay Games is open to all
participants. They have the vision of inclusion and diversity. I
would think this area would be privileged to be hosting such an
event,” Kuhn said.