Salina, Kan., rallies against pro-LGBT law

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SALINA, Kan., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- The repeal of a Salina, Kan., law giving protection to the gay community was encouraged at a rally, speakers equating it to a threat against religious liberty.

The protection from discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation to those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered, was approved in a 3-2 vote of city commissioners in May and in effect since June, and will be put to a public vote after petitions for its repeal, signed by the required number of registered voters, were presented, the Salina Journal said Tuesday.

At the "Awaken Salina" rally Monday, sponsored by the Kansas Family Policy Council in the Salina Bicentennial Center, the Rev. John Fillipi called for a prayer of "unity, harmony and wisdom that we might lead in our community," after which a number of speakers, many ministers in local churches, offered comments condemning the LGBT community and their perception of the outcome of the law.

"Today we are fighting LGBT. We have taken religion and the Bible out of our schools," said the Rev. Richard Edds, and, noting the public accommodation phrase in the ordinance, added, "Do you want your wife or little girl to go into a restroom and have some ungodly man go in with them? I don't think so."

"We Christians are at a crossroads. Separation of church and state was designed to keeps the state out of the church. We don't have to accept lifestyle choices that are against the word of God," the Rev. Danny Sartain said.

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