Thessaloniki mayor hits back at Bishop’s gay pride comments

The Thessaloniki Pride event is on this weekend, from June 20 to June 21.

“We just don’t share the same view,” says Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris sought to strike a diplomatic tone on Tuesday following controversial statements by a leading Orthodox cleric regarding the city’s upcoming gay pride festival.

“We see eye to eye on many issues with the bishop and we have a very good cooperation. On other issues, we just don’t share the same view and we don’t cooperate,” the recently re-elected Boutaris said of Thessaloniki Bishop Anthimos.

Speaking of the Thessaloniki Pride event, which takes place on Friday and Saturday, Anthimos described homosexuality as a “perversion of the human existence” and attacked the annual festival as a “disgrace.”

“Do not give dogs what is holy,” he said quoting the gospel of Matthew.

Source: Kathimerini.