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Published: July 13, 2010

Out of the parade -- but not out of sight

Parish advertises in guidebook for San Francisco’s ‘Gay Pride Parade’ featuring ads for homosexual ‘hook-up’ services, Internet porno

Most Holy Redeemer, San Francisco’s infamous ‘gay friendly’ parish, did not have a contingent marching in this year’s “Gay Pride Parade” as in years past, but the parish did operate and staff a beverage booth (beer, wine, cocktails), and took out a half-page ad in a pocket guide supporting the June 27 parade.

The half-page ad in the 64-page Pocket Pride guidebook cost $650. The ad featured the words, "God's Love Proclaimed Here" in large letters, with a photograph of the front of Most Holy Redeemer Church, a Mass schedule, and the parish’s street address, phone number and website address.

In 1998, Most Holy Redeemer became the first Catholic parish in the world to march in a “Gay Pride Parade,” and continued to do so for many years thereafter until the archdiocese ordered a halt to the practice in 2008, although accounts of what brought an end to parish participation in the marches varies.

In June 2008, California Catholic Daily reported that Most Holy Redeemer and another ‘gay friendly’ San Francisco parish, St. Agnes, would not be participating in that year’s “Gay Pride Parade” because “the city’s archbishop requested that they desist and because, according to their pastors, interest among parishioners has faded.”

But Fr. Steve Meriwether, pastor of Most Holy Redeemer, said at the time his parishioners chose not to participate of their own volition. “It is really just our response to… well, we’re tired of the hate mail,” he said. “The parishioners see their participation in the parade as an evangelical outreach, but they don’t enjoy being called nasty names either. This wasn’t because of any request from the archdiocese.”

Maurice Healy, director of archdiocesan communications, said, however, that the chancery did request that Most Holy Redeemer stay out of the 2008 “Pride Weekend,” including the annual parade. “It was probably a combination of that and the archdiocese talking to them,” said Healy, when told that Fr. Meriwether had insisted parishioners made the decision not to participate, California Catholic reported in 2008. “At the parish level and the archdiocesan level, it probably was felt that it was a good idea.”

Jesuit Fr. J. Cameron Ayers, then pastor of St. Agnes, said at the time that his parish would not participate in the parade 2008 either. “We just haven’t had the same level of interest from our parishioners that we had a few years ago,” said Fr. Ayers. “There was no order given to me from the archdiocese, but I can’t speak for other parishes.”

Most Holy Redeemer, however, has continued support for the parade by raising funds for its AIDS support group with a beverage booth during the event. Even in 2008, when the archdiocese put the kibosh on parade participation, Most Holy Redeemer operated a beverage booth near San Francisco’s Civic Center, next to the main stage. “There’s a 100 percent chance we will not be in the parade this year, but the AIDS Support Group will have a beverage booth to raise funds for AIDS services,” Robert Pementell, director of the group, said at the time.

The 2010 Pocket Pride guide in which Most Holy Redeemer advertised was a slick, color magazine providing comprehensive information on the 2010 Pride Celebration and Parade. It included a site map, welcome messages from political leaders, a directory for 297 exhibitors’ booths, and listings for one main and 23 other stage areas and venues for entertainment and for various “gay” subgroups. The past and present Pride Parade grand marshals were listed, as well as a list of 166 parade contingents.

Stages and venues included an “HIV Pavilion,” a “Queer Youth Space,” the “Faerie Freedom Village,” “Homo Hip Hop,” “Steamworks Latin Stage,” “Leather Alley,” the “LGBT Collaborative Family Garden,” and the “Nectarena Women’s Stage.”

Among the politicians featured in Pocket Pride were U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a self-described “devout Catholic,” California Assembly Speaker John Perez, who this spring became the first “out” homosexual state assembly speaker in the United States, and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a prominent political pioneer for same-sex “marriage” now running for lieutenant governor. Newsom, a graduate of Jesuit-run Santa Clara University, has also described himself as a Catholic.

The Pocket Pride back cover ad, priced at $1,800, featured a photo of a bare-chested young man, and promoted a “hook-up” service “For all the men in your life,” with a website offering opportunities for homosexuals looking for “one-night stands,” “groups” and a link to a “Thug Orgy” website.

The inside back cover ad, priced at $1,200, promoted “The Most Free Webcams in the World,” and pornographic videos available on the Internet. The ad featured provocative photos of homosexuals and lesbians.

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