[HeartStrongList] Newspaper article from Sunday's Protest

[heartstrong at heartstrong.org]

Hi Everyone...

I am passing along this article from Sunday's protest.  It will be
reprinted on the HeartStrong website eventually as well.  We are almost
done with the photos from the protest as well.  I'll let you know when
that is ready for viewing.

Thanks!  And, feel free to let me know your thoughts about this by signing
our HeartStrong guestbook http://www.heartstrong.org

Marc



Gay speaker draws dueling protests

By Eric Laughlin, Democrat staff writer


Several protesters and supporters came to the corner of Main Street and
Cedar Ravine Road Sunday evening to express their views on homosexuality
and a Placerville church's decision to invite a gay speaker to its house
of worship.

The presence of both groups coincided with the scheduled arrival of Marc
Adams, the openly-gay lecturer and founder of the organization
“Heartstrong,” which reaches out to gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered youth attending religious schools. Adams spoke to a packed
house at the Federated Church in Placerville.

Dick Otterstad of Garden Valley's controversial “Church of the Divide”
donned a devil costume to voice his outrage for what he called a
contradiction on behalf of the church in their welcoming of Adams.

Otterstad and others, including his son Luke, have made their presence
known throughout the county on multiple previous occasions to protest
homosexuality.

“I care about the kids much like Jesus did,” the younger Otterstad said.
“They're in a formative stage right now and who knows how this person will
affect them.”

He went on to say that he feared the speech might encourage youth in
attendance to convert to homosexuality.


Protester Kim LaCasse, whose husband Bob was also dressed up as the devil,
said her main problem with homosexuality is its effect on culture and
future generations.

“I think that kids nowadays are being taught to go ahead and try it, to go
ahead and see if it's for you,” she said.

She related the act of sodomy to her past problems with drugs and alcohol.

“Once something like that gets a hold of you, it's hard to give up, but
you just have to stand up and say no to what's wrong.”



The number of those who came out to support Adams' visit closely mirrored
that of the protesters.

High-school-aged students Ian Cambridge and Alex Bardelmeier were on hand
to counter Otterstad and his group of sign holders.

“They're protesting something as silly as “don't eat food,'” Cambridge said.

“These guys have been around all of my life spreading hate,” said
Bardelmeier. “I try to get out and speak against them when they come
around.”

Kim Trussell came with her teen-aged daughters to counter the anti-gay
demonstration.

“If they call themselves Christians they should put their energy and funds
toward more worthy causes,” she said. “Instead of spending money on all of
those really nice signs, they should help the homeless or the starving
children. And they bring these young 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old kids with
them. At least my kids are old enough to know what they're doing.”

Dick Otterstad told the Democrat that his main drive to protest Adams'
lecture came when the Federated Church turned down his requests to allow a
person who he calls a former gay man speak at the church on the same
night.

“That church discriminates against former gay people,” Otterstad said. “As
soon as we heard about this we made numerous attempts to get another
viewpoint represented. They said ‘no.'”

He also spoke to a small group about his views on homosexuality in general.

“In God's mind this is a big deal,” he said. “Those who are guilty must
repent.”

When asked what he would do if one of his own son's were gay, he dismissed
the idea, claiming it would never happen based on the level of masculinity
provided to boys in his household.

At about that moment a car with two girls drove up, one of them said, “Hey
devil,” and they started kissing. Otterstad was noticeably disgusted.

When the Democrat reached the Federated Church, Adam's lecture was already
well under way.

“One thing you can't change is your inner self,” he preached. “There's a
difference between behavior and identity.”

He went on to say that, like with Otterstad, he often makes attempts to
speak with protesters gathered to protest his lectures.

“I try to make a human connection with them, it's usually much more
effective.”

As for Dick Otterstad, he seemed confident that his group's efforts would
be validated.

“Usually after we come out (and protest), they stay quiet for awhile,” he
said “We're confident that that will happen again after tonight.”