'It stings that it's here': Calgary LGBT supporters protest Billy Graham group's arrival during Pride Week

Supporters of Calgary's LGBT community rallied Thursday around a large vehicle belonging to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada that was parked downtown, a block from city's pride crosswalk and days before its pride parade.

"It stings that it's here," said protest organizer Mike Morrison.

"It stings that it's during Pride Week, across from beautiful pride murals, that it's steps away from a crosswalk that's been vandalized twice, so it definitely hurts this week."

The association is named for the late Southern Baptist minister who was a prominent evangelical and political figure in the United States for decades. It opposes gay rights and homosexuality itself, which it decries as a sin and something to be overcome.

The association devotes a section of its website to homosexuality, with one article describing the discovery of a gay family member as a "shattering experience" and offering advice on how to help loved ones "seek freedom" from their sexual orientation.

"We want to assure you that any willing person can be liberated from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ," the article says.

Morrison described the group as "extremely homophobic" and said the location and timing of its arrival in Calgary was disrespectful to the gay community in the city.

In a statement, the association said the vehicle is part of its outreach services and noted it was invited to Calgary to participate as an exhibitor at the Pentecostal World Conference going on this week at the Telus Convention Centre.

"Our Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain ministry offers compassionate emotional and spiritual care to people, no matter who they are or what their circumstances," the emailed statement reads.

"Our trained chaplains and specially equipped Mobile Ministry Centre are positioned on Stephen Avenue Mall, outside the convention centre, as a service to the 3,000 conference delegates from more than 70 countries, and to anyone else in downtown Calgary who comes seeking emotional and spiritual care."

Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham, is the head of the association and has been especially outspoken against what he describes as the "gay and lesbian agenda." In 2014, he supported Russian president Vladimir Putin's crackdown on homosexuality during the Sochi Winter Olympics, writing: "In my opinion, Putin is right on these issues."

More than two dozen people waving rainbow pride flags gathered in front of the association's vehicle outside the convention centre on Thursday afternoon.

The 2019 Calgary Pride Parade is scheduled for Sunday.