She compared it to inviting prominent anti-gay activist Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church to speak on a topic besides homosexuality.

“Bob Lenz not only speaks out about his personal beliefs, but as a leader in the Save the Storks bus tour program, he participates directly in the interference of access to women's health care,” she wrote in the letter.

In a statement on his Facebook page Monday, Metcalfe said that he was inspired to invite Lenz due to the speaker’s involvement in suicide prevention awareness, but decided that his anti-abortion activities would bring unnecessary controversy to what he wanted to be an apolitical event.

“It was brought to my attention that the speaker’s affiliation caused some concerns and as a result, I respectfully rescinded the offer,” he wrote. “Our goal is to make Brat Fest a great experience for all who attend.”

The inclusion of religious-themed performances this year is a change for the traditionally secular Brat Fest, a development that Metcalfe told the State Journal was a result of a religious awakening he experienced while attending a Christian music festival last year.