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Story Updated : August 25, 2010 05:30:00 PM

Street Preachers: We're Not Homophobes


GEOFF SKELDING Highfield Road Gospel Hall Church alt X390 GRAB | ADVOCATE.COM

The Toronto couple who was allegedly being targeted by a group of street preachers say the story just isn't true.

Blair Chiasson, who lives in the home with his partner Paul Collins, said the story has spiraled out of control, and has come to the defense of the members of the Highfield Road Gospel Hall.

“I just want this to stop" he said in the Toronto Star. "Stop discussing it. Stop talking about it. It’s really kind of spiraling out of control.”

Chiasson added that the group probably only convenes in front of their house because the hire hydrant in front prevents cars from parking there. 

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Members of the Highfield Road Gospel Hall say they are not homophobic, after they were accused of loudly reciting Bible verses outside a gay couple's house on a regular basis for seven years.

Followers of the church, based in Toronto, said they have never targeted specific houses or people based on sexual orientation, according to the National Post.

The group, armed with Bibles, assembled Sunday morning for their regular meeting on the street. However, this week about 10 residents chased them off the block, captured in the video below.

One unnamed church member told the National Post that the church has been doing the street preaching for 70 years and that they are not homophobic.

"You know, we're very sorry that this has happened. We're hurt that this has been misconstrued," he said. "If they feel they're being targeted, we feel sad about that. They're not being targeted. ... We're there for everyone to hear the gospel. We're not there to preach to just one house. That would be discrimination."

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Rick D
    Date posted: 8/29/2010 12:57:33 AM
    Hometown: Port St Lucie, FL

    Comment:

    What a powerful video! It really shows how a neighborhood can come together and push back against the religious bullies.

  • Name: Dave
    Date posted: 8/27/2010 10:41:23 PM
    Hometown: Oil City

    Comment:

    I believe Christ directed his followers to go quietly into a closet or small room to pray and not to follow the practice of the priests of his day by praying loudly in public places, renting their clothes, etc to demonstrate their "piety" to bystanders. Rather than follow their founder's (Christ) advice, many so-called Christians parade about loudly proclaiming their beliefs, build monstrous, gaudy churches in center city, and in other ways shove their belefs down the throats of the community. Even worse, these so-called christian bigots sit in judgement of their neighbors deciding who is worthy and who is not. All of which is contrary to the teachings of christ, their founder.

  • Name: Jon
    Date posted: 8/26/2010 12:45:34 PM
    Hometown: Toronto

    Comment:

    I would suggest that people actually read the Toronto Star article on this that goes into more detail about why the gay couple feel like they were not being targeted. Personally I think it was in bad form for them to be preaching this way on a quiet neighbourhood where what they could be seen as being discriminatory (even if the house belonged to an unwed hetero couple, or athiest). I don't think they purposefully targeted that couple though, they go to random houses on various streets in the neighbourhood and pick places that don't have cars.

  • Name: michaelandfred
    Date posted: 8/26/2010 12:01:37 PM
    Hometown: miami beach

    Comment:

    How long does it take to read the bible anyway? I'm sure I could knock it out in a couple of days. 7 years in the same spot?! That neighborhood has more patience that I have. I'd have asked them to move on after 20 minutes. Talk about beating a dead horse. Ok, ok, we've heard it, (and heard it and heard it...) now go bore someone else. 7 years??!! Jesus......

  • Name: Frank
    Date posted: 8/26/2010 3:16:34 AM
    Hometown: Minneapolis

    Comment:

    Obviously the gay couple is either totally in denial or is being intimidated by this group. I don't believe they just happened to pick that particular house. They are liars.

  • Name: chris
    Date posted: 8/26/2010 1:09:12 AM
    Hometown: toronto

    Comment:

    please people give them a break!? so what if they are preaching they said there not homophobic and the couple that lived there did not feel discriminated so what are you all angry about? none of you were even there ? and yes I'm gay.

  • Name: Jeannie
    Date posted: 8/25/2010 5:22:02 PM
    Hometown: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth

    Comment:

    I'm wondering why it took seven years for the neighbors to react.

  • Name: Mike Scott
    Date posted: 8/25/2010 3:04:28 PM
    Hometown: Richardson, Texas

    Comment:

    They're full of shit!

  • Name: Bill
    Date posted: 8/25/2010 2:33:14 PM
    Hometown: Arlington

    Comment:

    I am reminded of the words of Blaise Pascal: “Men never do evil so easily as when they do it in the name of religion.”

  • Name: Carl
    Date posted: 8/25/2010 2:21:43 PM
    Hometown: Chicago

    Comment:

    It's always in the name of God that some people peddle their hate. And, heaven forbid, you should never question anything becuase it's now their religious right. The world would be better of if, by some magical quirk of fate, we were to take a 1 year break from all religion. We'd see clearly and quickly that we don't need any of it. Even if you belieive in God, Jesus, Allah, Mohammed, Budah, or Confucious. Organized religion discriminates, judges, oppresses, hates, lies, and kills in the name of some God, god, god-like, or deified person.



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