(PHOTO: Courtesy of Terry Lee, WJON.com)

90 supporters of gay marriage march for equal rights
by Terry Lee, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- Supporters of gay marriage and equal rights gathered in St. Cloud's Barden Park Thursday afternoon as sort of an anti-rally happening across town against gay marriage.

The group of almost 90, mostly young adults, gathered for the first ever "Above the Clouds" gay pride march. The event was organized to happen during the same time the National Organization for Marriage made a stop in St. Cloud, to rally against gay marriage.

The group walked from Barden Park to Division Street and down to Highway 15 and back, carrying homemade signs that read "Love is not a sin, but bigotry and intolerance are", "Gay rights are civil rights" and "Will work for equal rights".

"Above the Clouds" gay pride march organizer, 22-year-old Justin Michael put together the event only a couple of days ago.

Michael says the march was not a protest against the anti-gay marriage movement, but a way to provide an opportunity for young people to express themselves and their views.

Michael says he is inspired by the group of young people who showed their support, and hopes older generations will join them.

While no DFL candidates showed-up at the PFLAG Rally in St. Cloud last (Thursday) night, all of them either sent letters of support or a representative. That indicates Margaret Anderson-Keliher, Mark Dayton, and Matt Entenza are not planning to back-down on their support for legalizing gay marriage in Minnesota.

President Elect of St. Cloud's PFLAG Dave Schorn says last night's event was important for the local gay community.

A few hundred people attended the rally supporting same-sex marriage held at Wilson Park in east St. Cloud.