Despite being denied a permit for a Straight Pride event in Modesto, CA the organizers secretly planed to go forward with it and announced Saturday afternoon that the location of the event would be at the Planned Parenthood on McHenry Avenue in Modesto.  

The information was previously kept secret supposedly because of alleged and unsubstantiated threats of violence.

While only a few dozen Straight Pride participants actually showed up to the clandestine event, they were met by over 200 counter-protesters who shouted them down carrying signs, with phrases like “If being gay was a choice I’d be gayer” and “This was not on my gay agenda.”

Don Grundmann, the founder of the National Straight Pride Coalition, said he’s proud of his few supporters who showed up for standing up for their right to free speech and his group’s fundamental principals.

“Masculinity, femininity, the natural family of man, woman children, babies, born and unborn western civilization, Caucasians and all people, all of those are basic foundations that are under attack,” Grundmann ranted

Max Reed a member of the Modesto Non-Violent Collective, who helped organize the counter-protest that began at Enslen Park and then left to confront Straight Pride supporters in front of Planned Parenthood said “This community is standing together to reject this group and what they represent,” Reed said. This is not what Modesto is about. We’re about inclusion and diversity and unity.”

Other counter-protesters say they hope their strong turnout sends a message to Grundmann and his Straight Pride supporters across the country.

“When people want to come into your own backyard and spread a message that you don’t agree with then you have a right to stand up against that too,” Wendy Byrd, President of the NAACP Modesto Stanislaus Branch, said.

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