pastor pays for hateful message in the local paper (WI), residents don't want it
EVANSVILLE (WKOW) -- The official newspaper for the City of Evansville is facing mounting criticism from members of the community after disseminating several anti-LGBTQ publications to all Evansville residents.
In various ads, editorials and letters obtained by 27 News, the Evansville Review willingly published speech that accused the LGBTQ community of "grooming children" and acting in "perverted" sexual behavior.
It's led to outcry in the Evansville community — particularly among queer residents.
"I know several families who have left specifically because of the Review," one woman who wished to remain anonymous said. "It's terrifying."
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Another woman named Liz Gillitzer has lived in Evansville her whole life and is a member of the LGBTQ community. She says the recent articles have made her question whether the town is right for her.
"The fact that they are sending this ad sheet to every single home within the city limits is irresponsible," Gillitzer said. "It's abhorrent."
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The man who pays for the anti-LGBTQ ads to run is local pastor Ronald Gay. He currently lives in Evansville and presides over Grace Independent Baptist Church.
Gay admits that he can see how his language can be hurtful but says that's not necessarily a bad thing.
https://www.wkow.com/news/evansville-newspaper-under-fire-after-sending-multiple-anti-lgbtq-publications-to-residents/article_f4c3f27a-af3b-11ed-b062-7fc4f5cfd09e.html
Newspaper accused of spreading anti-LGBTQ ‘hate speech’ to every resident in WI town
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article272572848.html#storylink=cpy
There’s even a running joke in town about it, Neeley said. It goes: “Oh you, get the Review? So does everyone that doesn’t want it,” he said. The paper’s management didn’t respond, he said. So he and his wife, Susan, started an online petition asking the paper to stop sending the material to residents who don’t want it, he said.
“It seems to me they do it because they believe it’s the right thing to be doing. ... They consider it their duty to print some of this stuff,” Neeley told McClatchy News in an interview. “Whatever they want to print is fine for them, I just don’t want it. It can potentially be harming our children if they read it.” Residents in town told WKOW 27 that the material made them feel unsafe.
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