THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Some 300 members of Greek Orthodox religious groups have gathered outside a church in central Thessaloniki, Greece to protest the planned staging of a gay pride parade in the northern port city.
Protesters displayed banners reading “No to the promotion of perversion” and “We should be proud of high values and not of ephemeral depravity,” as riot police screened off a few dozen gay and lesbian onlookers.
Thessaloniki’s conservative church officials strongly oppose plans for the city’s third annual gay pride parade on Saturday.
On Wednesday, religious protesters held all-night prayers against the planned parade, which the city’s Christian Orthodox bishop, Anthimos, described as a “perversion.”
Friday’s protest ended peacefully.
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