Anti-Gay Crusader Goes Undercover At Vancouver Pride Parade, Hands Out Fake Condoms | HuffPost

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Undercover Anti-Gay Crusader Hands Out Fake Condoms

The Huffington Post B.C.

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Sporting tight shorts and electric pink hair, an anti-gay crusader infiltrated the Vancouver Pride parade last weekend to distribute homophobic leaflets disguised as condoms.

Bill Whatcott and four other evangelical Christians from Edmonton and North Dakota marched in the parade under the fictional banner of the Calgary Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. They handed out 2,500 "gospel condoms" along the route to spread their message that "those who give themselves over to homosexuality suffer grievously because of their sin."

Photos posted online show the activists admittedly enjoying the "ungodly event."

"Seeing as all the pagans were having fun while rebelling against God, we would have fun too, while evangelizing the parade route and winning souls for the Lord," wrote Whatcott in an online forum for social conservatives.

"Brilliantly done! You looked appropriately disgusting!" wrote an online commenter. "The grotesque dancing, the placement of your little coin purse, the ugly colors, the blasphemous beads, I can see how your enemies didn't recognize you; I didn't either."

Another person commented: "Bill, I'm not sure evangelizing under the cover of deceit is such a good idea. If you have to make up a cult to get people's attention, I'm not sure it gives Christ a lot of credibility."

All parade participants are rigorously screened, the general manager of the Vancouver Pride Society told Daily Xtra. But Whatcott's application may have fallen under the radar because a legitimate branch of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM) had previously appeared in the parade, said the newspaper.

(FSM is a recognized movement that opposes the teaching of intelligent design and creationism in public schools.)

Whatcott used a pseudonym to apply for a parade permit, and went so far as to create a fake website and fake phone number for the group.

In 2013, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld a Saskatchewan ruling against Whatcott, who was found to have violated human rights rules by distributing pamphlets denouncing gay people.

Whatcott, the executive director of the Christian Truth Activists, told Daily Xtra that he has marched in Pride events in Alberta and Saskatchewan without disguising his identity, but the receptions there were colder than in Vancouver.

“Vancouver Pride loved me 100 per cent, and it was positive from beginning to end," he said.

Anti-Gay Crusader Bill Whatcott At Vancouver Pride

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Anti-gay activist Bill Whatcott (with pink hair) marched in the Vancouver Pride parade on August 3, 2014 as part of a fictitious group called the Calgary Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. (credit:Free North America)

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Whatcott and other activists handed out anti-gay leaflets disguised as condoms to the crowd. (credit:Free North America)

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"I believe this lady was marching with a teacher's union. She loved my hair. I hope she also gets a chance to read my Gospel condom and receive Christ as her Lord and Saviour. I can't remember if I gave her one or not," wrote Whatcott on his website. (credit:Free North America)

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Whatcott poses with Vancouver MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert, who is unaware of the anti-gay activist's background. (credit:Free North America)

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"The nudist contingent was happy to have me and my elite covert social conservative activists in their midst and they will no doubt benefit from receiving Gospel condoms," wrote Whatcott on his website. (credit:Free North America)

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"Seeing as all the pagans were having fun while rebelling against God, we would have fun too, while evangelizing the parade route and winning souls for the Lord," wrote Whatcott. (credit:Free North America)

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"For the first time ever the police where happy to get photographed with me while I distributed truthful, pro-monogamous marriage, Gospel condoms at a homosexual pride parade," wrote Whatcott on his website. (credit:Free North America)

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"Notwithstanding the CBC's libelous coverage of my Supreme Court Case and the fact I am currently waging a defamation case against them, they were thrilled to pose with me at their booth in the Vancouver Pride Parade," Whatcott wrote on his website. (credit:Free North America)

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A reveler dances as bubbles float in the air during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Revellers take part in the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson dances while wearing a rainbow boa during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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A woman uses her phone to take a photo of herself with Liberal leader Justin Trudeau during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, right, greets spectators during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, left, greets spectators during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau waves to the crowd during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday, August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson waves to the crowd while riding on a city float during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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A colourfully dressed reveler attends the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 3, 2014. (credit:Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

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This gallery shows a series of images from the 2013 Vancouver Pride Parade. (credit:Canadian Press)

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Parade grand marshal Jenna Talackova, the first transgendered Miss Universe contestant, makes a heart shape to the crowd during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 5, 2012. Organizers expected as many as 600,000 people to take in the parade which is one of the largest in North America. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

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A reveler dressed in an elaborate costume takes part in the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 5, 2012. Organizers expected as many as 600,000 people to take in the parade which is one of the largest in North America. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

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A giant rainbow flag is carried down Robson Street during the Vancouver Pride Parade in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday August 5, 2012. Organizers expected as many as 600,000 people to take in the parade which is one of the largest in North America. (credit:THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

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