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Kerusso Ministries President Arrayed in Purple Goo

Ex-Gay Hatemonger Struck by Two Pies Thrown

ACT UP and the Biotic Baking Brigade Take Credit

By Jack Nichols

San Francisco, California�October 11-- Michael Johnson, president of Kerusso Ministries, an anti-gay organization, had just stepped up to the podium in Golden Gate Park when he was smacked on the side of his head with a blueberry pie. Thereupon he was arrayed in what some considered majestic purple. "A fitting color for a wicked queen," quipped one critic.

A sticky Johnston thereafter dubbed himself "The Blueberry Martyr". His group had gathered to oppose National Coming Out Day, a gay tradition that encourages honesty with ones relatives, friends and co-workers. Johnston told reporters he was celebrating National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day.

A second pie also bounced off of "former homosexual" Johnston's head striking a bystander's arm. Police arrested Josh Trenter, 23, of Woodside, and David Lovejoy, 20, of Daly City, members of ACT UP and the Biotic Baking Brigade, who were cited for battery.

Prior to this unexpected scuffle, members of Kerusso's "Ex-Gay" religious congregation had listened�via satellite�to the Rev. Jerry Falwell encouragements. Self-accepting gay listeners deemed both Falwell's and Johnston's speeches as incitements to hate.

ACT UP's Michael Bellefountaine said, "We wanted to call their attention to National Coming Out Of Homophobia Day and we really wanted to make the connection between hate speech and hate Crimes against gays and lesbians."

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
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Todd Swindell, another member of San Francisco's ACT UP group, said:

``We're here on the year anniversary of the crucifixion of Matthew Shepard to remind Falwell and his hateful cronies that their hate speech directly threatens to the existence of queers everywhere."

In the meantime, Jerry Falwell is scheduled to meet approximately a week from now at his Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia with his former ghostwriter, the Rev. Mel White. White, who is openly gay, says "Our war of words has to end. Too many are being caught in the deadly crossfire."

Falwell has promised not to "compromise his position on homosexuality," but he supports, White believes, White's primary goal. "Mel sincerely wants to lower the rhetoric on both sides," said the gay cleric. "And that is exactly what we want as well."

The unusual dinner/forum is being widely praised, according to White, but protestors have promised to be in Lynchburg to make known their opposition to the hoped-for reconciliation.

Revs. Mel White (top) and former boss Jerry Falwell

Bob Kunst, a veteran gay activist from Florida says, "Because of Tinky Winky, Falwell's already been beaten and by bettering this war criminal's reputation and making him look reasonable, White has compromised himself and is trying to take the rest of us down with him."

Kunst deems Jerry Falwell incapable of honest dealings.

Fred Phelp's, of "GodHatesFags" fame, condemns both Falwell and White for the event. "In meeting with those who commit such things as are 'worthy of death' (Rom. 1:32)," Phelps writes, "Falwell is guiltier than White."