Conservatives Scorn Gay Pride Festival

Some local conservatives and church leaders are taking a stand against Ventura County’s first lesbian and gay pride festival, warning the weekend event later this month in Simi Valley could erode the area’s “deep moral values.”

At least one church is planning to confront festival participants. And in a resolution adopted Wednesday, a coalition of board members from the Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks Republican assemblies denounced the event and a recent proclamation by the county Board of Supervisors that recognizes the festival day, May 31, as Lesbian and Gay Pride Day.

“It’s shameful that our supervisors, who say they speak for all of us, would support this,” said Russ Hopkins, a member of the Simi Valley and Moorpark Republican Assembly. “If they had taken the time to talk to some of the people here, they’d know we’re not into this homosexual agenda. . . . We’re really offended by this and it’s about time somebody took a stand.”

With about 200 members, the Simi Valley, Moorpark and Thousand Oaks Republican assemblies are part of the larger California Republican Assembly--a staunchly conservative grass-roots organization that holds significant sway in Sacramento.

Most recently, the local groups censured state Assembly candidate Rich Sybert for clandestinely removing his opponent’s campaign signs.

In their sternly worded resolution, board members of the Republican group condemned both the event and the Board of Supervisors endorsement as sending a “dangerous and immoral message to the community,” adding that gay lifestyles are “detrimental to the longevity of those engaged in it and destructive to the quality of life and health of a community.”

Supervisor Judy Mikels, who sponsored the proclamation at the request of festival supporters, was unavailable Wednesday to comment. But an aide said the board would have risked a civil rights suit if it rejected the proclamation.

“She was thinking of the taxpayers,” said Mikels spokesman Keith Jajko. “If this was shot down, the county could have been left open to a suit.”

Festival organizer Paul Waters said he is not surprised by the criticism.

“It’s ridiculous,” he said. “This festival is for everybody, and if anything, it’s going to show that Simi Valley is a safe, tolerant and beautiful place to live.”

The criticism, Waters said, might work in his favor by alienating more moderate conservatives and boosting attendance by making the event more controversial.

“It’s so disconnected from reality that I think a lot of people will be turned off by the whole thing,” he said. “It’s absurd and I think the people of Simi Valley and Ventura County are smart enough to see that.”

Alarmed at what they perceive as an affront to morality, a number of area church leaders also have criticized the festival.

“When this first came up, I couldn’t believe it,” said Pastor Dennis Chapman of Calvary Baptist Church in Simi Valley. “The homosexual agenda is recruitment and getting people into that kind of lifestyle. . . . That’s something we have to work against.”

Chapman and a handful of congregants said they are planning to attend the festival to distribute scriptural literature and speak with those in attendance.

Also, the Sonrise Christian Fellowship in Simi Valley will host a seminar next week for area church leaders to discuss homosexuality and the festival.

Church officials would not comment on whether they will be planning any action in opposition.

Father Michael Carcerana of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church said church leaders plan no response to the festival, although their position on homosexuality is well known.

He did, however, disagree with one point raised by festival critics. Homosexuality “is not about recruiting,” he said. “Sexuality is something that people discover in the course of their lives.”

Organizers say the Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival will attract as many as 10,000 people from across Southern California and could generate sizable business for local merchants.

They plan to offer food booths, vendors, tables set up by community and civil rights groups, music and other entertainment.

Waters likened the Simi Valley event to another--if much larger--festival held in Long Beach last weekend.

Now in its 16th year, the Long Beach Festival drew an estimated 100,000 people. According to a study commissioned by festival organizers, the event generated more than $2 million worth of business within the city.

In Simi Valley, organizers have already lined up a list of sponsors, including Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola and a number of local businesses and financial institutions.

Critics like Hopkins, however, discount the suggested financial benefits to the city and say Simi Valley instead was chosen simply for the shock value.

“It’s an in-your-face thing and they know that better than anybody,” he said. “They’re just here to make a scene, because [the event] is certainly not a representation of people here.”

Though he said he understands that perception, Waters said Simi Valley was chosen because it’s home to several established gay and lesbian organizations, such as the United Church of Christ, Lambda Friends social club and the See-Me Squares square-dancing group.

“We’re not here to shock anyone. . . . This is about the community and about bringing people together,” Waters said. “And to say it’s not a reflection of the people in the community, well, let me tell you, that’s just wrong.”