An LGBTQ pride flag was burned in a bonfire during this so-called “Freedom Festival,” sponsored by The Sanctuary Church’s Rod and Iron Ministries — an extremist group whose leader, Pastor Sean Moon, advocates for the execution of LGBTQ people.
Ford Fischer, a video journalist and editor-in-chief of News2Share, posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, video footage showing a church member holding the flag and saying, “We’re gonna toss that into the bonfire tonight” followed by applause from onlookers, followed by footage showing the bonfire with the flag burning, while Pastor Moon prayed and stated that he was leading a battle against “political satanism” which he describes as “abortion, ‘sexual deviancy,’ and destruction of traditional family.”
Taylor James, executive director of the TriVersity Pride Center, based in Milford, Pennsylvania, issued a statement condemning the provocative flag-burning. “The sponsors and organizers of the Rod of Iron Freedom Festival are inciting anti-LGBTQ violence. We call upon our local elected officials and the businesses associated with the event to publicly condemn these acts of hate and bigotry.”
According to the Freedom Festival website, Baer Sport Center, Gun Owners of America, Joybeck Custom Builders, the Executive Protection Institute, Grimm Construction, Milford Chrysler Sales Inc. (who also owns Milford Hospitality Group) are all listed as sponsors. Chant Realty was also listed as a vendor, and photos showed the Proud Boys and candidate for school board Carl Will with tables at the festival.
“Actions speak louder than words. If our local elected officials and community leaders are serious about fighting hate, protecting the LGBTQ community, or bringing unity to Pike County, now is the time to publicly condemn these clear acts of hate and bigotry. Otherwise, they are tacitly supporting this behavior,” stated John Hellman, vice president of Advocacy for the TriVersity Pride Center.
This incitement of LGBTQ violence follows recent events in June where the Pike County commissioners reversed their previous public pledge, and voted to table a resolution acknowledging June as LGBTQ Pride month in response to pressure from the same hate groups that were present at the festival. Despite repeated follow up communications from TriVersity, after the Commissioners Osterberg, Schmalzle and Waldron promised to set up a task force to investigate hate in Pike County, they have not done anything to follow through on that promise.
TriVersity
Milford