4/9/12: Evangelist Sues Gay Pride Festival

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A man who has passed out Bibles at a Minnesota gay pride parade for years is suing after city officials restricted him from giving out the book at this year’s event.

Brian Johnson started handing out Bibles at the Twin Cities Pride Festival in 1995, and three years later, gave out the books in Minneapolis’ Loring Park from a booth approved by parade organizers. But in recent years, the people behind the event, which draws as many as 300,000 people, have tried to oust him, first nixing his bid for a booth and then having him arrested in 2009.

Johnson sat out last year’s event for fear of arrest. But the legal wrangling continued behind the scenes, and this year parade organizers designated “free-speech zones” on the Pride Festival grounds, where Johnson and others could distribute literature. Johnson and his attorney rejected the policy.