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Pastor criticizes Pride event during public comment, alleges inappropriate conduct
Summary
A local pastor used the public-comment period to criticize the city's Pride event, alleging sexually explicit material and inappropriate conduct in the presence of children; the speaker read scripture and the remarks were cut off for time, and no council response or rebuttal was recorded.
Josh Ling, who identified himself as pastor of Bible Believers Church, used the public-comment period to sharply criticize the city’s annual Pride event and to allege that sexually explicit behavior and material occurred at the event in the presence of children.
Ling read from scripture and said he was "witness again this year to men dressed in modest women's apparel, reading books to little children with the intent to groom them, to crossdress, and other sexual perversions." He said a coloring book advertised from the stage contained pages the speaker described as too explicit to read aloud. The speaker also said he was concerned the event occurred on public property while children attended.
The presiding official stopped the speaker after enforcing the public-comment time limit; no formal council response or denial was recorded in the transcript. The remarks represent the speaker’s allegations; the city and Pride event organizers did not respond during the meeting.
Because the statements allege misconduct, reporters and officials should seek independent confirmation from event organizers, city staff, and any available event materials before repeating or treating the allegations as established fact.
