CALGARY—Members of the LGBTQ community are questioning the decision to allow the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada to set up its chaplaincy truck on Stephen Ave. just half a block from the city’s Pride crosswalk.

The Billy Graham association is openly against homosexual relationships, stating on its Canadian website that sex is “only to be enjoyed within a marriage between a man and a woman.”

The association’s Rapid Response truck is parked across the street from the Telus Convention Centre for the 25th annual Pentecostal World Conference, which runs Aug. 27-30. The truck is used for the organization’s disaster relief program, which “deploys crisis-trained chaplains to provide emotional and spiritual care to those affected by man-made or natural disasters,” according to the Billy Graham international website.

Richard Einarson, a member of the LGTBQ community, said it made him “uncomfortable” to see the truck parked on Stephen Ave., especially during Pride week.

“It doesn’t look good,” he said, questioning whether those responsible for allowing the truck to be there did their research on the group first.

“If there was a blatantly racist organization that wished to place a trailer on the street ... I’m hopeful that it would not be allowed,” he said. “But for some reason a blatantly homophobic organization ... is allowed? To me that’s a strange double standard.”

Einarson said he knows many people aren’t aware of the Billy Graham association’s stance on homosexuality, but that most people in the LGTBQ community are.

Einarson stressed that he does not believe Christianity to be homophobic, but he said that this organization in particular is known for its homophobic beliefs. He said he hopes those responsible for the decision look into the Billy Graham organization and make sure Calgarians know the city does not endorse homophobic beliefs.

A spokesperson for the City of Calgary said the decision to allow the truck, which is scheduled to be on Stephen Ave. for the duration of the convention, was up to the Calgary Downtown Association. An email sent to the executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association requesting comment was not answered by press time.

Merle Doherty, the manager of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Canadian chaplaincy, said he had no idea the convention was during Pride week. Though Doherty said he fully agrees with the statement about homosexuality on the Billy Graham website, he said he loves everyone and added that the Rapid Response truck does not discriminate in its aid efforts, noting that the truck was on hand for the Pulse nightclub shooting.

He also said none of his volunteers had been approached by onlookers critical of their presence.

Keith Murray, the Affirming Co-ordinator at Hillhurst United Church, said in an email that he’s disappointed the organization was permitted to set up shop on Stephen Ave. during Pride, but that he recognizes the group’s freedom of religion.

“Our hope is that they will peacefully and quietly share their message within the confines of their permit, while the rest of us enjoy a great celebration of people who are sacred, holy and beloved just the way they are,” he said.

Prominent LGBTQ advocate Pam Rocker said while she will leave it up to the city to decide whether the truck should be allowed to be downtown during pride, she hopes people passing by are aware of what the organization stands for.

She also disputes Doherty’s message about loving everyone regardless of gender or sexuality.

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She said she hears this argument “all the time” from people with similar beliefs, and thinks it is disingenuous to claim homophobia is a personal belief when those beliefs have a real-life impact on LGBTQ people around the world.

“I only hear that verbiage from people that would condemn me to hell,” Rocker said. “The reality is, their beliefs mean death for people like me ...you can say love, but what does that mean?”

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