By DEVIN WEEKS

Staff Writer

COEUR d’ALENE — As rainbow-clad revelers boarded the 22nd annual OutSpokane Pride Cruise boat at The Coeur d'Alene Resort docks Saturday afternoon, street preacher Glenn Bledsoe had a message for them.

"Jesus says, 'You’re the light of the world. Don’t hide your light under a bushel, set it out so that all can see,'" he said, holding a large protest sign in the grassy area between the Boardwalk and McEuen Park.

"If you’re a Christian, stand up for the Lord," he said. "Take the side of the Lord for righteousness. Not only preaching the gospel, but when there is sin being flaunted in society, especially in Idaho, the sin of sodomy, fornication and adultery is still illegal in the state of Idaho. It’s on the books."

Bledsoe, a Kootenai County resident affiliated with Lordship Church in Coeur d'Alene, was joined by about 10 others who held signs and warned passersby of fire and brimstone and the need to repent.

Bledsoe said his goal was to be “a physical presence for the Lord against sodomy."

"We are witnesses for the Lord," he said. "The city council in Coeur d’Alene should never have granted gay rights when it’s a criminal act to commit sodomy. They violated the law five years ago."

A few people walking by made comments, including "Jesus says love not hate" and "We are not ashamed, we're proud."

"They are trying to get a foothold and this is a way to try to get a foothold, especially in North Idaho, which is more conservative," Bledsoe said. "They’re going to keep pushing. They’ll take a mile, which will represent the parade route they want to have down Sherman. They’re not going to just stop with this, having their little cruise or picnic."

Meanwhile, the fourth annual Pride in the Park took place in Coeur d'Alene City Park. Attendees enjoyed vendor and educational booths, live music, dancing and other activities. The celebration is held at the beginning of June in recognition of Gay Pride Month.

Sophia Oakley, 17, of Coeur d'Alene, said she wasn't aware of the protestors.

"We're just trying to promote love over here. We're trying to create an atmosphere where everybody is comfortable," she said. "If you go down to Pride in the Park, there's no hatred upon anybody, if you're gay or you're straight or you're Christian or not, anything."

She said she feels that Pride in the Park promotes love, while those protesting the celebration are "trying to promote hatred."

"I don't know why they do it, but there's no stopping it, it's going to happen," she said. "People are going to be opposed to whatever they believe in, it will happen, so the best you can do is ignore them, have a good time and support love. Support happiness. Support people loving people, that's what we should be doing instead of promoting hatred and bigotry and problems. Let's promote the solutions."