Christians did protest at the city counsel meetings, to stop this event, including phone calls to the mayor’s office, to no avail. Tulsa Bishop Konderla was invited to the prayer witness, but he did politely respond he could not attend.
So from about noon, for over one hour, a small group of Catholics stood directly across from the parking lot at Events Park, which is taxpayer property, in the area designated to them by park security when they arrived. They held signs saying “God Loves You. Repent!” and “Pray and Fast.” This was right across from the junction where cars were directed into the parking lot.
During this time, the prayer protestors received many sneers and insulting gestures, such as kisses blown at them publicly as a form of objective sexual harassment, and at least TEN times they were given the middle finger. If it had been Christians doing this to homosexualist protestors, it could have been construed legally as harassment and even harassment on the basis of sexual orientation (= hate crime in some jurisdictions.).
Several BA police cars were patrolling the area, one which parked close to the protestors for a while as if directly observing them.
At one point a man from the event approached the Catholics angrily asking why they were there, being told because they were Catholics witnessing about the Truth regarding homosexuality, at all times and in every way done in a respectful and civil manner. The man rose his voice angrily saying “Oh yeah, then I’ll protest the Catholic Church then,” for which a security officer approached and corrected the man.
Children were seen being brought by adults into the event. Local 96.5 FM Radio was there in support, as well as a big truck for the Tulsa Library system (part of the City of Tulsa). As advertised, the children would have access to the drag performances providing sexualized content to minors, on City property, certainly as required by their parents. Raising concerns of objective sexual abuse of minors on City property in public.
A car drove up to the Catholics, apparently a man and his wife, rolling down their window to thank them for their presence. In their rear view window were two signs, one saying “Jesus saves,” and the other “Repent.” They had come with loud speakers to preach the Word of God, looking for the right spot to set up.
Likewise a while later, about a dozen men arrived from Baptist Temple church in BA, including their pastor, prayerfully holding tall signs with relevant Bible verses, standing down the way from the Catholics on the same side of the parking lot. At the end of their protest, the Catholics strolled on over to their brothers in Christ to discuss what they thought of this new event, which will likely continue to be a spiritual threat to the Christian culture that is still present in BA. They exchanged info, to collaborate next year.
All in all, after just one hour from the start of the event, there were at least 15-20 Christian protestors, giving witness, hopefully more later in the day before the event closed at 9 pm.
It is anticipated there will be the first Homosexual Pride parade next year in BA, in all likelihood given formal support and permissions by City of BA politicians. And these same Catholics, and hopefully more, will be there. Praise be to Jesus Christ.