MEDFORD (CBS) – A controversial sign up Medford sparked dueling protests alongside Salem Road Friday.
“It is a message of God’s reality and us making an attempt to disclose it to our neighborhood,” mentioned Pastor Joseph Hawkins of New England Baptist Church.
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Pastor Hawkins’ signal about gender id learn:
“MALE AND FEMALE
CREATED HE THEM.
GEN 5:2
GENDER IDENTITY SOLVED.”
That message isn’t sitting effectively with the non-binary neighborhood who don’t establish as male or feminine. They confirmed up by the handfuls in protest coming face-to-face with churchgoers.
Signal outdoors New England Baptist Church in Medford (WBZ-TV)
“The signal itself isn’t being inclusive and it’s not the illustration of Medford,” mentioned Jonathan Dallas, who identifies as non-binary.
It was a peaceable protest, however the LGBTQA neighborhood in Medford instructed WBZ-TV that the message the church posted makes them really feel unsafe and unwelcome within the metropolis.
“The message encourages different individuals to behave on it, that in the event you don’t belong to male or feminine gender like any individual like myself that’s in between… If I’m strolling down the road, is somebody following me and can attempt one thing,” questioned Jonathan Dallas.
Protesters stroll previous Pastor Joseph Hawkins of New England Baptist Church in Medford (WBZ-TV)
Pastor Hawkins mentioned they’re not preaching hate or violence, however God’s reality.
“It’s nearly hypocritical that they’ll current their world view and we are able to’t,” mentioned Hawkins.
Whereas Medford’s mayor believes it’s time that individuals be extra accepting of each other.
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“It’s time for all to know that love is love,” mentioned Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. “All people ought to be capable to love who or how they need.”
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