Focus On Family Vice-President Speaks In Arcadia California At Invitation Of Mayor Attracting Protestors

The Reverend H.B. London Jr., vice president of ministry outreach and pastoral ministries at Focus on the Family, spoke about family values to a crowd of at least 300 people Friday inside the Arcadia Community Center Friday, receiving a standing ovation from those in attendance, and protests from of residents and gay rights activists gathered outside, reports the Pasadena Star-News. An estimated 90 protesters from around the region who support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community greeted guests entering the 2011 Mayor’s Community Breakfast, waving American and rainbow flags, they chanted "we are families too" and "city funds are not for hate." London, who served as pastor at First Church of the Nazarene of Pasadena from 1985-91, stressed the importance of unconditional love among family members, no matter what they may say or do. "In spite of some of the things that (my sons) may have done or said that I disagreed with, I loved them unconditionally," London told the audience. "They were my sons. Nobody had a greater responsibility to them than I did...It seems that in this day and age, that in so many ways we've acquiesced to the point where maybe we've given over to social agencies the role of parenting and the role of family and we need to take that back." Gary Searer, a structural engineer, was among the protestors outside who claimed that the Colorado Springs-based Focus on the Family is neither accepting nor unconditional toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals. "They do not tolerate people who are different and that's inappropriate for the city to spend money on this," Searer said. London joked about the attention his invitation by Mayor Peter Amundson to be the keynote speaker at the breakfast has received in recent months but avoided the topics of same-sex marriage and homosexuality in his speech. "I just believe this is democracy and if they disagree with my appearance here, they have every right to disagree with it as long as they are peaceful and respectful. Whatever they say or do is their conscience," London said after the event. "They are speaking their conscience." While he believes strongly in marriage between one man and one woman, London said he accepts those with differences of opinion. "I respect their right to do what they do and to believe what they believe," he said. London also argued that Focus on the Family "has not been intolerant" but rather advocates what it classifies "a biblically based position" on such issues. Arcadia resident Marsha Aizumi, who has a transgender son, was there protesting with her family Friday morning with a sign that read, "LGBT loves and accepts all families." Of her son, she said "I think he's really courageous every day because he's transgender. He goes out and tries to live his life the way he was meant to be. So for me to come today is to support all the LGBT people and especially my son. I want to be courageous, too." Ten police officers and a SWAT vehicle were stationed outside the community center to ensure public safety at the event, but police said there were no problems. Focus on the Family was originally founded in Arcadia in 1977 by Dr. James Dobson, and believes that marriage should be between one man and one woman and advocates "reparative therapy" as one way to change unwanted same-sex attraction. Besides an unknown amount of staff time, the city's contribution to put on the event is estimated to cost between $5,000 and $5,500, said Linda Garcia, the city's special projects manager.