MoonBerry

New Orleans, Louisiana) An evangelical Christian group that regularly demonstrates at LGBT events is blaming gays for hurricane Katrina.

Repent America says that God "destroyed" New Orleans because of Southern Decadence, the gay festival that was to have taken place in the city over the Labor Day weekend.

"Southern Decadence" has a history of filling the French Quarters section of the city with drunken homosexuals engaging in sex acts in the public streets and bars" Repent America director Michael Marcavage said in a statement Wednesday.

"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city." Marcavage said. "From ‘Girls Gone Wild’ to ‘Southern Decadence’, New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same."

"Let us pray for those ravaged by this disaster. However, we must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said.

"May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.

As 365Gay.com reported on Tuesday, organizers for Southern Decadence have cancelled the event and are promising full ticket refunds. (story)

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said Wednesday that hundreds are known dead and the death toll will reach into the thousands. Some estimates, CNN reported, indicate the final death toll in New Orleans alone may top 100,000.

Water levels eased off slightly on Wednesday, but most of the city remains submerged and it is believed it could be months before the city is inhabitable.

Repent America most recently demonstrated at the Philadelphia Phillies tribute to gay fans earlier this month. (story)

Last year 10 members of Repent America marched to an area near the front of a stage at Philadelphia's Outfest and began to yell Biblical passages.

Police attempted to get the protestors to move to to an area on the edge of the Outfest site. Instead they went deeper into the gay crowd. Using a bullhorn they condemned homosexuality. They then got into an argument with a group of Pink Angels, who screamed back.

It was at that point police intervened.

Four members of Repent America, including Marcavage, were charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal conspiracy and inciting to riot. The charges carry sentences up to 47 years behind bars. But, in court, a judge dismissed the charges saying the protestors were in a public park and police had violated the group's First Amendment right to free speech. (story)

Marcavage has been arrested, detained or cited by police around the country since founding Repent America in 2002, including at a demonstration against same-sex marriages in San Francisco.

Lemons

Oh god. So now its gays and Bush? What ever happend to Natural Disasters? Why cant both sides just be quiet and lend a helping hand. Stop blaming eachother and help these people out for Gods sake.

PapRoach123

Agreed.

Lemons

always good to hear.

Nanny

Yep. That's right. It was the gays. We did it.

Lemons

I know, how can you blame any group of people for a natural disaster? It just amazes me.

Nanny

Exactly. It's attitudes like that, and the stories of greed that I'm hearing from people in Louisiana, it makes me really hesitant to offer any sort of aid to the relief.

Lemons

Well, dont think of those people. Think of the people who lost their homes and have no where to go. Not the two sides who constantly point fingers at eachother and blame eachother for stupid things like this. They need your help. You're donating to them, not the people making the accusations.

Nanny

I'm more turned off by the greed, though. Although, ultimately, I'm not offering any money because I'm broke right now. Like litterally, I don't even have anything to donate. Hopefully I'll have a job in the next week or two and I can donate.

Lemons

I've donated three bucks at my local Ralphs store. It wasn't much, but it felt good to know it helps.