Gay Pride Weekend Targeted by Foes of Domestic Partner Measure

Gay pride festivities in Long Beach this weekend are giving conservative churchgoers an occassion to spell out their opposition to a domestic partnership measure approved recently by the City Council.

The Rev. Mark Chappell, pastor of the city’s First Baptist Church, said the ordinance allowing registration of unmarried couples probably will come up during the church’s third annual Family Pride Sunday, a counter event to the annual Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade.

“Domestic partnerships are most assuredly an attack upon the time-honored definition of a family,” said Chappell, adding that a coalition of Long Beach ministers is hoping to put the issue before city voters.

Long Beach gay rights activist Jack Castiglione criticized the renewed attacks against the domestic partnership ordinance.

“I think it’s sort of silly,” he said. “The churches get a lot of energy from creating this kind of an issue and exploiting it.”

The Lesbian and Gay Pride Festival begins today next to the Long Beach Downtown Marina, and the 14th annual parade begins at 11 a.m. Sunday at Ocean Boulevard and Temple Avenue.

Christian Law Assn. founder David Gibbs Jr. will deliver sermons Sunday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1000 Pine Ave. in downtown Long Beach.