The city of St. Louis has agreed to pay $80,000 for censoring the speech of Christians during a "gay" pride festival on city property, according to the Alliance Defense Fund.

The law organization represented the plaintiffs in a case brought over the censorship, and it announced yesterday it had voluntarily sought dismissal of the lawsuit after the city's offending policy had been struck down and the city agreed to pay damages and costs of the case.

"Christian groups shouldn't be banned from public areas for expressing their beliefs," said Rick Nelson of the American Liberties Institute, who served as lead counsel in the case and is allied with the ADF.

"We are pleased that the city of St. Louis now recognizes the First Amendment rights of ministries who wish to share their viewpoint on important social and moral issues at events taking place at public locations," he said.

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The city policy had been used to prohibit members of a Christian ministry from distributing literature and speaking about their religious viewpoint at an annual "PrideFest" celebrating homosexual behavior.

The case developed starting in June 2006 when members of Apple of His Eye Ministries were threatened with arrest by St. Louis officials for handing out Christian literature and speaking about their faith at Tower Grove Park during the annual PrideFest event.

The lawsuit was filed in April 2008, and the court immediately issued a preliminary injunction allowing the distribution of literature during the 2008 PrideFest. Two weeks before the 2009 event, the court made the injunction permanent.

The ADF said the order protects the ministry's distribution of literature at all public parks, public squares and other public locations in St. Louis, including public sidewalks.

The organization's "Stipulation for Voluntary Dismissal" noted negotiations with the city resulted in an agreement for the city to "pay the total sum of $80,000 to satisfy all damages, attorneys' fees and costs related to this litigation.

In his decision granting the original preliminary injunction, the judge found, "While there may be attendees at PrideFest 2008 who may also object to Plaintiffs' distribution of religious literature or expression of religious views, their 'injury,' namely, the suffering of viewpoints with which they may disagree, is outweighed by the restriction of Plaintiffs' First Amendment right to express those views in a public forum."

WND recently reported previously on similar cases. In Florida, several cities holding festivals set up fenced areas as "free speech zones" for Christians, keeping them away from the event itself.

Also, in Elmira, N.Y., a dispute developed when police threatened to arrest three Christians if they did not remove a shirt and stop sharing biblical messages during a "gay" pride event at a public park.

John Barnes wore a shirt with the message "Liberated from sin by the blood of Jesus" to the Southern Tier Pride 2008 at Wisner Park – a June 14, 2008, event promoted as a celebration of homosexual, bisexual and transgender lifestyles.

According to the complaint filed in a U.S. district court, Elmira police Capt. Michael Marrone ordered Barnes to remove his shirt to prevent a "negative atmosphere" at the event and arouse discomfort in other attendees.

Barnes obeyed the officer and took off his shirt so he could remain at the park without facing arrest.

Another Christian, Julian Raven, carried a Christian newsletter to the event called the Elmira Protestor. Marrone threatened to arrest Raven if he distributed the letter, saying it contained obscene or illegal material, according to the complaint. Raven complied with the order.

Capt. James Wandell and Sgt. Sharon Moyer threatened a third Christian, James DeFerio, with arrest for holding a sign on a public sidewalk adjacent to the park. The sign read: "Thousands of ex-homosexuals have experienced the life-changing love of Jesus Christ" and listed websites for more information about ministry to ex-"gays."

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