Responding to pressure from Christian groups, the Miller Brewing Co. is asking organizers of a "gay" street celebration in San Francisco to remove its logo from a promotional poster portraying Jesus Christ and his disciples as "half-naked homosexual sadomasochists."As WND reported, the poster for the Folsom Street Fair replaces the bread and wine representing Christ's blood and body with sadomasochistic sex toys.
In a statement on its website, Miller said while it has "supported the Folsom Street Fair for several years, we take exception to the poster the organizing committee developed this year."
"We understand some individuals may find the imagery offensive and we have asked the organizers to remove our logo from the poster effective immediately," the company said.
The annual street event, which includes displays of nudity and sexual activity, is scheduled for Sept. 30.
It describes its mission as organizing "world-class volunteer driven leather events, providing the adult alternative lifestyle community safe venues for self-expression, emphasizing freedom, fun and frolic, while raising money to benefit San Francisco charities."
Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, told WND the response from Miller came after he called on the company yesterday to pull its sponsorship of the event.
He said he's weighing whether or not to press further with a demand that Miller not only remove itself from any connection to the poster but also pull out of the event entirely.
Donohue explained his group doesn't try to "police every moral outrage" but focuses on anti-Christian provocations.
He points to the Folsom Street Fair's payment to an anti-Catholic homosexual group – the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – for their performances at the event.
The group, which describes itself as "21st century nuns for the queer," plans a "Last Supper" tomorrow night in preparation for the San Francisco fair:
"There is no better way to prepare your mortal flesh for the kinkiest weekend on Earth than to nourish your bones and boost your spirit with a divine feast: The Last Supper With The Sisters, at Eureka Restaurant ... "
Donohue said Miller's subsidy of the "Sisters" could prompt a boycott and further exposure of what the event is all about, including photographs from recent years.
"This is the most morally depraved, bigoted segment of gay population," Donohue said of the anti-Catholic group.
Concerned Women for America first drew attention to the Last Supper poster yesterday.
The group wants California's elected officials – including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer – to "publicly condemn this unprovoked attack against Christ and His followers."
"We further challenge the media to cover this affront to Christianity with the same vigor as recent stories about cartoon depictions of Muhammad and other items offensive to the Muslim community," said Matt Barber, CWFA's policy director for cultural issues.
Barber pointed out San Francisco taxpayers help foot the bill for the fair by providing police support – to shut down several city blocks and provide security.
A police lieutenant confirmed officers are on the clock during the event, not paid for by the organizers.
The Folsom Street Fair website also lists San Francisco's environment department and its Grants for the Arts –which comes out of the hotel tax fund – as sponsors.
"The most unimaginable and vile acts of debauchery are commonplace during the fair," Barber said.
"Senator Larry Craig was arrested and driven out of the Senate for allegedly soliciting public 'gay' sex, yet during this event the city of San Francisco suspends the law and allows 'gay' men and women to parade the streets fully nude, many having sex – even group orgies – in broad daylight, while taxpayer-funded police officers look on and do absolutely nothing."
Barber encouraged mainstream media to cover the event with cameras in hand.
"There's an unbelievable news story here," he said.
"The Folsom Street Fair is reminiscent of biblical Sodom and Gomorrah, and the media should document exactly what the city of San Francisco is allowing to occur – in public – in the name of 'tolerance.'"
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