Jesus-Gay Billboards Defaced

INDIANAPOLIS -- At least two billboard signs that seek to get people to re-examine homosexuality by using biblical references have been vandalized in Indianapolis.

The campaign, coordinated by the Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, of Indianapolis, carries a message some consider shocking, 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

In order to deface the billboards, vandals had to be daring, using extension ladders. There have been no arrests, but the debate rages.

The billboard proclaims that Jesus affirmed a gay couple. "Lie, lie, lie," is scrawled in red paint above the original message on a sign on 10th Street.

Twenty-two billboards were placed strategically around the city. The Rev. Jeff Miner, of the church that paid for the billboards, was disappointed by the vandalism.

"There was a sense of disappointment, a sense of shock. That's OK," Miner said. "We're going to share a positive, powerful message how the Bible affirms gay people and we know there is going to be some opposition as we try to get that message out here."

In addition to the billboards, church volunteers have placed about 2,000 yard signs around the city. Many of them were pulled out of the ground almost as fast as they were put in.

Curt Smith, of the Indiana Family Institute, criticized the vandalism, but said the Bible does not confirm the billboards' message.

"I think homosexuals are noted in the Bible in a couple of key passages that were an example of sexual sin that is decried by God," Smith said.

The billboard campaign is scheduled to run for 30 days. One of the damaged billboards was fixed by Tuesday afternoon. The second one might be repaired by the end of the week.