Pathway Church pastor Travis Johnson recently addressed an issue involving Pride Month flags and website promotions of Pride events.
Last week, Johnson called on the City of Mobile and other local leaders to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not spent on promoting Pride Month. He said Visit Mobile, which is publicly funded, has promoted Pride events and said the city allowed Pride Month banners to be displayed. Johnson serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit. After he made the comments, Johnson said he received backlash.
"I said what I said," Johnson told the congregation. "Mobile isn't San Francisco, and by God's grace, it won't be."
Johnson said displays should represent the people of Mobile, not an agenda.
"Before anything else, to every person in the city, regardless of where you stand in any of this, Mobile is a city of faith," he added. "We believe children are a gift from God. We believe the nuclear family is not an outdated institution. It is the backbone of every healthy community that has ever existed."
Johnson announced he has submitted his own banner application to recognize National Child Awareness Month to protect children from gender ideology.
"The design has been received, and I have been told it's going to be honored," Johnson stated. "I'm calling on the City of Mobile to honor my duly submitted banner application. It was made in good faith through the proper process under the same policy that approved the Pride Month banners. There is no legal procedural or policy basis to treat it differently."
After his banner is flown, Johnson said he has reason to believe the city will discontinue its policy allowing banners from applicants. He said if that's the case, he is claiming a victory.
"That's perfect," he said. "If that's the case, let it be said that what ended gender indoctrination banners being affixed to our city property was a call to prayer, a banner asking God to protect the children of Mobile from gender ideology. A pastor submitted a prayer for our children, and the city decided it could no longer allow extremist indoctrination campaigns on public polls. That is not a loss. That is a victory for every family in the city."
A similar situation occurred in Montgomery in 2023. Johnson welcomed former Montgomery City Councilman William Green, whose actions ended Montgomery's flag policy.
When the City of Montgomery flew a pride flag, Green proposed that the City observe Christian Heritage Month in June and fly the Christian flag. He asked for equal access but was denied. Instead, the city decided to stop flying all specialized flags. He joined Johnson at church to tell the story.
"Instead of going directly at the gay flag, I basically said, 'Look, give the Christian flag equal time," Green explained. "So, I actually requested a Christian Heritage Month to go along with the gay pride month. So, rather than fly the Christian flag, they decided not to fly any flags. And that was in 2023."
Green and a group of fellow Christians also stopped local legislation that would have allowed men in women's restrooms.
Johnson said loving others does not mean agreeing with everyone. He encouraged the congregation to stand for truth and for Jesus.
"Freedom of speech is a gift," Johnson said. "But I have heard people in my own tribe say, 'Well, I can't say that, or I will lose my job.' Listen to me, brothers and sisters, as Christians, it would be better for us to live in a dumpster than it has for us to have a job that causes us to deny Christ. It isn't an option."
Johnson asked his church to pray for leaders.
City of Mobile media relations manager Dale Liesch said in a statement that the city's flag process allows organizations to display flags around their events. He said the city must administer the process consistently and fairly.
"This is not about the City taking a political position for or against any particular cause, organization, or viewpoint," Liesch stated. "It is about applying the same rules to everyone, honoring the constitutional rights of all citizens, and ensuring that City government does not pick and choose who is allowed to participate based on viewpoint. The First Amendment requires government to protect lawful expression fairly. Our commitment is to fairness, consistency, respect for all residents, and faithful adherence to the law."
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