Protesters Rally Outside Controversial Pastor’s Book Signing
It’s the city council battle that’s spilling into the streets of El Paso.
Protesters picketed a Barnes and Noble in West El Paso Saturday afternoon as the book store held a book signing event for author Tom Brown. Brown is the controversial pastor at the center of the voter-approved ordinance that aimed to take away the health benefits of gay and unwed domestic partners of city employees.
“We want El Paso to know that there are more of us than there are of him,” said Lyda Ness Garcia, Chair of “El Paso For Equality.” The group formed in response to the controversial ordinance but its members are now taking their message beyond city chambers.
“We’re not going to stop promoting a climate of tolerance and we’re not going to stand for hatred,” said Ness Garcia.
An upbeat Pastor Brown told ABC-7 he was not fazed by the protesters’ presence. “It’s a free country, I think it’s a waste of time,” said Brown as he searched for more books inside his car’s trunk to bring to the signing.
The protest comes days after a federal judge temporarily shelved Pastor Brown and his group’s “Traditional Family Values” ordinance. Judge Frank Montalvo ruled the resolution’s constitutionality needed to be cleared up before it could be enforced.
Organizers said Saturday’s protest was about more than the ordinance. Some carried signs saying “Homosexuality is not a sin” as an objection to Pastor Brown’s ideology.
The book Brown was presenting at the signing states that homosexuality is a “curable psychological illness.” This, despite the fact that the American Psychological Association has maintained for decades that homosexuality is neither a personal choice nor a mental disease.
Ness Garcia was quick to point that out during the protest. “(Brown) talks in detail about how the American Psychological Association has it wrong and that he has the cure….and he has no credentials to back that up!” said Ness Garcia.
There is a chapter in the book called “God’s Cure for Homosexuality”. Brown said the book cites research to back up his points.
The debate outside the book store was reminiscent of the back and forth inside city council for the past few months.
“I believe that we should all be treated equally and respected equally and have the same rights no matter if we’re gay or straight,” said protester Taylor Luna. “(Sexual orientation) is just a part of who you are.”
A final ruling on the benefits battle is expected by mid-April. Either way, El Paso For Equality is working on an anti-discrimination clause to be included in the May election ballot. Pastor Brown’s group has said it will continue to fight for the will of the voters by pushing for the ordinance’s enforcement.
