Many residents in the city of Weed, California, are rallying together to protest a sign that was recently put up by a local presbyterian church. The sign dead names Caitlyn Jenner (referring to her as Bruce) before rejecting the LGBTQ+ community. Citizens of weed want to be sure LGBTQ+ individuals know this sign doesn't speak for the whole town, and so staged a protest of the hateful church sign.
The sign reads:
Bruce Jenner is still a man. Homosexuality is still sin. The culture may change the bible does not.
After going up on December 31st, activists have begun gathering outside the church in protest. One weed resident commented to KTVL:
"I'm here to support individuals of our community, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, or other elements that make people unique. I think that we should show love, respect and tolerance to all individuals as part of our national identity."
Over the weekend of January 7th, crowds gathered with signs of their own!
"Jesus had 2 dads and he turned out FINE."
Justin Hoke, pastor at Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church, has defended the sign, writing on Facebook:
"It is not possible to preach the gospel in short pithy statements. I have used this sign for 7 years now to provoke reflection or make a strong point about a single truth. Such as this one: the culture does not determine truth God does."
Hoke regularly posts anti-LGBTQ statuses on his Facebook. Alongside an article about a drag queen being asked to leave a Chicago church, he wrote:
"Yes we are to love all, but come on. A person comes dressed in drag to a church service and they are not there seeking to worship God. They're coming to rub their rebellion in God's face. I don't want my children subjected to such perversion at such a young age."
Many people online had an important reminder for the church about the Bible:
Though many can't be there in person, Twitter users are rallying behind the Weed protests in spirit:
Acceptance and love shouldn't be conditional upon someone's gender identity.
The residents of Weed want any members of the LGBTQ+ who pass by the sign to know—their town will not be defined by hate, but by love.
@SecretaryBurgum/X
@Doug Ellin/X
@evanrachelwood/Instagram