Anti gay protester held after Mardi Gras

By Dave McElhill • September 4, 2006 - 0:00

Mr Green was arrested over a Public Order offence for handing out leaflets at the Cardiff Mardi Gras

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Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice, was arrested at the Cardiff Mardi Gras for leafleting on Saturday.

Mr Green was approached by officers who asked him to stop leafleting people, but he was arrested when he continued to distribute leaflets with extracts taken from the Gospel.

In a statement Mr Green claims: "I thank God for the honour of being locked up for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Of work between the Police and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community Mr Green said: "Maybe they work a bit too closely when an evangelist can be victimised simply because he is giving out leaflets quoting verses from the same Bible police officers swear on in court."

He claims that his rights to free speech have been challenged, and that his leaflet calling for LGBT people to give up their choice is not offensive or inflammatory but "asks how the reader will stand in the Day of Judgment."

Mr Green is unrepentant of his actions, saying that the Bible should not be held in contempt.

Organisers for the Cardiff Mardi Gras refused to comment on his arrest.

Matthew Batten, Policy and Public Affairs Officer for Stonewall Cymru said: "Cardiff Mardi Gras is the one event in Wales where lesbian and gay people come together to celebrate gay life in a safe and friendly environment."

He told PinkNews.co.uk "Wales' gay community has the right to be protected from this deeply offensive material, which equated being gay with incest."

Mr Batten added: "South Wales Police have demonstrated their commitment towards the safety of the lesbian and gay community."

Mr Green was later charged with "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby, contrary to section 5(1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986," according to the police.

Whilst protesting at the EuroPride festival he claimed "You don't have to be gay, there is a way out."

He told PinkNews.co.uk at EuroPride "We are protesting about sodomy being openly paraded in the capital, bringing shame and judgement to the UK."

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