Pastor Forced to Foot Bill for 'Police Protection' During Pro-Family Rally

Just try to tell me there are not double standards when dealing with Christians...!!

(AgapePress) - A pro-family activist says it's outrageous that a pastor was charged thousands of dollars for a police detail to protect those attending a Christian event from homosexual activists who were demonstrating outside.
Last month Tom Crouse, a pastor in Worcester, Massachusetts, held a pro-family, Christian event that focused on God's design of heterosexuality and featured a "Mr. Heterosexual" contest. However, various homosexual groups attempted to force the event to be cancelled. When those efforts failed, about 100 pro-homosexual activists congregated in the streets outside the facility where the event was held.
But prior to allowing the Christian rally to take place in historic Mechanics Hall, local law enforcement authorities demanded that Crouse pay $6,200 up front to cover the costs for a police detail, equipment that would be used to search the attendees, and training for staff to operate the equipment. In contrast, according to a Massachusetts-based pro-family group, on the evening of the rally, police permitted the pro-homosexual demonstrators -- who had announced their intentions days beforehand -- to protest without a permit, blocked traffic to allow the demonstration, and did not charge the demonstrators any money for a police detail.
The group Article 8 Alliance reports that those entering the rally in Mechanics Hall were subjected to "airport-style security searches and other things which no other event at that hall ever requires." Also featured during the event was Jonathan Owens, a 22-year-old former homosexual who shared his testimony how a relationship with Jesus Christ had led out of that lifestyle.
Alliance president Brian Camenker says Christians throughout the nation should be outraged and concerned.
"What happened inside was so harmless that even the gay activist newspaper said they couldn't understand why they considered it such a big deal -- but they did," he says. Camenker explains what he perceives to be those activists' rationale. "They don't want the message that you can leave homosexuality or any discussion that criticizes the homosexual lifestyle to be allowed, and especially from a Christian perspective. This drives them crazy."
Camenker explains that Christians in Massachusetts are often targeted by homosexual activists -- and laments that if Christians choose not to stand up against those activists, it will only get worse. "This story hasn't ended yet, believe me," he says. "But this is the kind of infuriating thing that is happening in Massachusetts and is probably going to start happening around the country ... when these gay activists decide that they want to close down Christian events that they don't agree with."
Approximately 250 people attended the event organized by Pastor Crouse. Participating in the pro-homosexual demonstration outside were Worcester Mayor Tim Murray, City Councilor Kate Toomey, and School Committee Member Joe O'Brien.

Update:
WordNetDaily has further details on this story:

A Massachusetts pastor who organized a pro-family event called "Mr. Heterosexual 2006 – A Celebration of God's Design" is suing the city of Worcester for requiring him to pay for the cost of police protection – $6,200 – based on the city's assumption protesters would show up.
Tom Crouse's event took place at the renowned Mechanic's Hall theater in Worcester without incident Saturday, but city officials had demanded prior to the event that he pay for security.
Mayor Tim Murray, the city's Human Rights Commission and the City Manager's Task Force released statements denouncing the event as "hateful" and "intolerant."
Crouse is represented in the federal civil rights lawsuit by the Arizona-based public interest group Alliance Defense Fund.
"City government officials cannot charge a fee for free speech to take place in a private venue," said ADF Senior Counsel Gary McCaleb. "Unfortunately, the city officials in Worcester are doing just that by forcing our client to pay thousands of dollars in security costs based on little more than fear that someone might protest."
McCaleb asserted the silencing of speech based on negative reactions "is an unlawful 'heckler's veto,' a form of censorship prohibited by the First Amendment."
"The possibility that someone might protest does not give city officials the right to slap a fee on the speaker, essentially punishing him for other people's reactions," he said.
Crouse says his event is a response to a "Mr. Gay 2005" competition in San Diego. At a press conference, he insisted the event was not "gay-bashing or hate filled."
The pastor hosts a weekly radio show, "Engaging Your World," on a Worcester station.
'Mr. Hetero' mug sold by Pastor Tom Crouse
He has a section of his website devoted to "Mr. Hetero," which sells related merchandise.
Crouse has been active in efforts to repeal Massachusetts' same-sex marriage law. On the website of his church, Holland Congregational Church, he said he's "thoroughly convinced if the people of Massachusetts get to vote they, like those from every other state, will vote for marriage to be defined as one man one woman."
"The pro-gay movement is scared to death of the people being allowed to vote because they also know they do not have a hope if it goes to the people," he said. "They know that what an activist judicial branch created, the legalization of gay marriage, the people will overturn."
The bio on his site says, "In his 43 years, Tom has led a rock band, wrestled professionally, been a VP of marketing for a private payphone business conducting weekly seminars, owned his own business, and sold everything from lawn care to kitchen cabinets to industrial painting equipment."
Crouse says he lived a wild, rebellious life until becoming a Christian in 1984.
"I tell kids whatever you do – sex, drugs, drinking – it won't be enough," he said. "Whatever it is it won't satisfy you. There will be that emptiness that only Jesus Christ can fill. I know. I've been down all those other roads."