In response to Pat Matthes’ July 1 letter stating that preachers in America have free speech rights. Yes, they do, but in Washington state there are laws protecting people from vulgar hate speech. I didn’t attend this year’s Pride Parade, but the same group at last year’s parade kept shouting out horrible slurs against marchers that can’t be published in a family newspaper over and over on their loudspeakers, while children and their parents walked by. Would we tolerate a group of Nazis shouting out the N-word at the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade? Probably not.

I’m wondering who issues their permit and why aren’t they monitored and cited using the hate speech laws? I have contacted the mayor’s office about their permit with no response from Mayor Condon.

It’s time to stop all the hate we are constantly bombarded by. If you don’t like gay marriage, don’t marry a gay person. If you can’t tolerate gay people, don’t hang out with us. I don’t go to your church and shove my beliefs down your throat, so stay away from mine. All your hateful rhetoric will not change anybody’s mind, so do something constructive with your energy. Pray for our youth who take your hatred to heart and commit suicide.

Paul Flanary

Spokane Valley