This year's "Gay Pride" parade through the centre of Belfast on Saturday 2 August was true to form. If ever a parade was misnamed, this was it. Far from bringing pride to Belfast, it brought shame and disgrace to our capital city, and, faced with this vile display of wickedness, we can only pray that the Lord would have mercy upon us, for our city and Province are in growing danger of His wrath and anger.  Yet again, this parade was used by elements of the homosexual community to deliberately provoke and offend evangelical Christians and their faith. Last year, a placard stating that "Jesus is a fag" was carried in the parade, and this year a participant exposed himself to Christian protestors, and there were also reports that placards were torn and a Bible ripped (surely a very symbolic gesture).  Far from any expressions of regret or apology, the chairperson of the organising committee stated that such actions were "understandable".  If this level of outrageous provocation had been a feature of an Orange march, we would have been deafened by calls for it to be banned in future.  On this occasion, it is the silence which is deafening.  We in EPS agree with those who have already called on the NI Parades Commission to do its job and ban this annual display of intolerance.  This grossly obnoxious parade appears to have one chief aim - to provoke and offend evangelical Christians and the Christian faith.

Christian voters in NI should note that all the main political parties except the DUP openly supported this parade, and several MLAs were present on the day. They included John McCallister and Basil McCrea (UUP), David Ford, (leader of the Alliance party) and Dawn Purvis (PUP).  Christian members of these parties have a duty to voice their concerns.

Meeanwhile, we urge all who read this - whoever they may be and whatever views they hold - to read Psalm 2 which puts it all into context - and warns that this rebellious, arrogant world will one day bow before the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is not only the Lord of all who believe - He is the sovereign Lord over all the world.