Christian protesters who picketed the Pride parade could be banned from the streets during next year’s event.
Council chiefs are outraged that around 20 placard-waving demonstrators – many from the conservative pressure group Christian Voice – were allowed to disrupt the event.
They gathered outside the John Rylands Library on Deansgate as more than 100 floats – celebrating Greater Manchester’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and trangender communities – went past.
Members of the protest were filmed shouting ‘sinful’ and ‘wicked’ at people taking part in Saturday’s parade.
The group was largely drowned out by the whistle-blowing crowd of thousands – and Lord of the Rings actor Sir Ian McKellen gave them an ironic wave as he led the procession. But town hall bosses believe the protesters overstepped the mark.
They now plan to work with police to see whether anti-hate laws can be used to ban similar scenes at Pride next summer.
The move was described as a ‘major assault on freedom of speech’ by the director of Christian Voice. But Pat Karney, the council’s city centre spokesman, said such protests had no place in Manchester.
He said: "I will be meeting organisers and police to make sure that next year people are not subject to these vile, hate-filled rantings.
"This is 2010, not 1950, and young gay men and women should not be subjected to this hatred. We have a proud history in Manchester of freedom of speech but there is no place for this.
"I am a Christian and I believe that these people are a terrible advert for Christianity.
"There are things we can do using hate laws to make sure they do not come back."
Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice, said: "It is a very sad day for this country when the authorities want to clamp down on the teachings of the Gospel.
"This is a major assault on freedom of speech."
Christian Voice hit the headlines in 2005 when they led criticism of the controversial musical, Jerry Springer - The Opera.
The group led several street protests outside the BBC – and launched a failed private prosecution for blasphemy – when the corporation decided to screen the show.
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Typical Karney, ban this, ban that....
Sorry Pat but we live in a free country and everyone is entitled to their opinions, even religious nutters spouting nonsense in the name of their imaginary friend.
I don't agree with them in any way but strangely think their presence is, in some ways, a good thing as it highlights the bigotry that still exists.
Democracy,or should I say Authoritarianism is alive and well in Manchester....Mr Karney, as a Christian,when did it become vile and nasty to quote the Bible ? Seems like you have personal issues..
Whatevery happened to freedom of speech?
I see. So we have free speech except when some councillors decree that we do not have free speech.
Actually, I do *not* agree with these bible bashers; being xtians, they are wrong anyway, and probably should keep their silly views to themselves. But I do find it rather sinister that these councillors get to decide what people can and cannot say in public.
As a fair minded atheist, I 'tolerate' religious people, whom I feel as Dawkins does, are deluded. If they want to believe, as some others do, in fairies, goblins and unicorns then it's a free country and they should be allowed to but it has its limits. Gay people (I'm not gay) or any other group don't go round churches protesting, and if they did they'd soon be arrested. By all means, Christians, have your opinion and make it known but not like this...
Why was this ever allowed to happen. Would they be allowed to start chanting in the street about blacks or muslims for example? No. So why were they allowed to shout some outdated hate flled nonsense at gay people.
You really did the church proud boys.
Why ban the small minded, ignorant bigots? They only show themselves up, I find it highly amusing that such pathetic people can stand on the streets in full view of thousands of others who are enjoying the day and spout their vitriol, are they any nearer to heaven by doing so? I wonder if any of them ever ask themselves if the nurse/police officer/doctor/teacher/paramedic treating them, providing care, protecting them etc etc is gay? Would they then have the "balls" to spout their beliefs? Or to refuse care from a "sinner"? As the mother of a gay man I know he would just laugh in their faces, and I know he, his partner and all his friends had a fantastic weekend at Pride 2010. Pride 2010? No, I'm proud EVERY year of the wonderful, caring and fantastic man I am fortunate enough to call my son!!!
Although I totally disagree with the demonstrators you cannot stop people having their say. It offends me that some groups can seemingly do what they want and others are banned from even having an opinion. Sack this silly woman.
"Such protests have no place in Manchester"....... if you disagree with this Mr Karney.... why on earth did you allow the EDL protest last year.... trying to score a popular vote perhaps???
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Pride is about tolerance so these protesters should be tolerated.
As for using hate laws well I suppose that you could use them against anybody. If I protested against these Christians then hate laws could be used to ban me.
Hate laws can be used by BA against their strikers. How do you determine 'hate'.
This says more about Pat Karney and Labour than anything. Free speech as long as you say something we like.
Better to clampdown on the thugs that abuse people they thing are gay, including my mate who is married with two kids who was shouted at by a group of lads.
I sa 'hate' near the Printworks witha brawl of 20-30 people spilling into the street. All hetero's but better that Karney clamped down on this and other vilent incidents on Sunday night by reining up the booze culture.
Pat Karney shows his true Leninist approach to criticism. I thought so called Gay Pride was all about celebrating personal choice, freedom etc. Now I see Chaos only wants these freedoms to apply to his own interest groups. Pathetic.
The sooner the sheople of Manchester vote out these self-interested muffins the better.
Pat Karney said..This is 2010, not 1950, and young gay men and women should not be subjected to this hatred. We have a proud history in Manchester of freedom of speech but there is no place for this.
If so why are they Christians not allowed their free speech?.
Come on Pat, for once stop making silly comments.
Please allow them to protest as we should value and uphold freedom of speech, and it gives us all some morons to laugh at.
Lets get this in some sort of perspective 20 people standing on the street with placards shouting abuse at the parade,which by all accounts was drownd out by the noise of the parade.Now Manchester council are trying to ban them next year.Now turn our attention to the vile abuse and death threats that our brave soldiers have to endure from a small minority group of Muslims, whilst marching through out streets,what do the authorities do about them,nothing,because we are told they have a right to protest.Something wrong somewhere.
im not christian, i dont agree with their view, but i do believe in free speech, let them protest.
Karney has more faces than ten town hall clocks. If someone would gag this most irritating member of Manchester City Council I would buy them a pint with pleasure.
Thousands in the crowd and hundreds on floats within the procession. Did anyone notice/care/take offence to the 20 people trying to protest against a weekend enjoyed by thousands.
Out of all the press coverage and numerous people I spoke to the first I knew about a protest is when a councillor decided to get the non event banned.
A decision to ban future protests which is probably impossible anyway should only be considered if the Police have received complaints about their actions.
If no complaints have been received, no one noticed them and as a result the councillor should stop trying to make a name for himself, wasting our money attempting to ban it. Instead could I suggest he gets back to doing his job.
To ban these admittedly unpleasant people would be to stoop to their level - they sought a ban on Jerry Springer, The Opera. It would I suspect be pushing it to say these people were inciting hatred. Let them protest and ignore them - Pat, you've just given them more PR than their otherwise barely noticed and barely attended protest.
It doesn't seemed to have bothered the people in the parade so why is Rent-a-Quote Karney getting out of his pram about free speech?
Note to councillor - If it's free speech you have to take the views you don't agree with along with the one's you do.
Free speech is one of the most important rights that we have. These demonstrators don't seem to have committed any acts of violence, so they should be allowed to express their views. As long as no laws are broken and no-one's harmed, it's not up to the council to decide what constitutes acceptable speech.
As a matter of interest as it's 2010 and not 1950 why do we need a gay pride parade?
Try as he might you can't control people's view or opinions. I was wa\tching the parade and next to me there were a few sniggers and choice quips. These people are entitled to their opinion.
What about those who didn't watch the parade but were in Manchester. Did they have other more pressing matters? Did they chose not to watch it and if so why? Did they choose not to watch it because they are full of hatred. Maybe the council should investigate.
I think the problem is that there are gay people in all walks of life and nine time out of ten you would never know but the parde shows the stereotype that these bigots think are gay people. It might be better just to show them parading they would be in day to day life so these bigots can see for themselves.
I also note that it was Karney who opened the city up to 2000,000 Rangers fans and relaxed the drinking laws. There was sectarian chanting all over the show but apparently this was 'only a small minority' according to the council. No ban of Rangers fans so why ban these 20 people?
The only person that Karney thinks should have freedom of speech is Karney himself. And why is it that everytime Karney is quoted in the MEN he is mysteriously promoted; today he is the "town hall chief "; since when?
Do one Karney. Funny how for years people had the 'freedom' to smoke on a night out if they wanted until you stuck your beak in trying to control everyone. Why have you got a right to do and say what you want but these 'christians' haven't? I am sure the gay community did not let this spoil their day so why are you going on about it? Because you're what Jaap Stam called the Neville brothers that's why.
The day you and that waster Leese are gone will be a cause for more celebration than any Gay Pride festival this city could hold.