01/08/2022
West Country LGBTQIA Activists have expressed their thanks to a local anarchist newspaper for unmasking the homophobia behind a local minor church. “The Bristolian” is a paper with a scabrous sense of humour and takes its slogan from an early nineteenth century radical magazine which described itself as “the smiter of the high and mighty”. The “Bristolian” says that Hope Church in the Clifton area of the city is operated by people to whom the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, is close politically. The paper then goes on to reveal the extremist homophobic positions held by the church, which it needs to be stated by no means speaks for all Christians. During the recent Pride Festival, there were anti-gay Christians handing out leaflets, before showing cowardice and running into the crowds of Saturday shoppers. But many progressive Christians did march in solidarity with Pride. Meanwhile, the “Bristolian” newspaper is free and available from numerous venues across the city including the gay run pub the Old Market Tavern.
