Utah greets gays headed for D.C.

OGDEN, Utah (AP) — More than 100 gay rights advocates riding a train to a rally in Washington were met in Ogden yesterday by 30 local supporters and a minister who lay across the track to protest their life-style.

Billed as "the gay rights event of the decade," Sunday's National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights is advertised as a rally by 100,000 people. Capitol

police said they were expecting about 25,000.

The Rev. Robert Harris, 54, a former state legislator and minister of the Church of God in Christ Congregational, greeted Amtrak's California Zephyr with a banner reading: "Homosexuals: You Devils are not Welcome Here."

"I love you devils, but I have to tell you the truth," shouted Harris. "You have no rights and the power

of God is against you.”

The Washington-bound gays and the local supporters joined in singing the hymn “Amazing Grace" to drown out much of Harris diatribe.

"We know this is a rough state for homosexuals, so we want to thank you for coming out. We appreciate it," said the Rev. Troy D. Perry, founder of the Universal

Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, to the group who met the train.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), which claims 70% of Utah's population ~ as members, excommunicates known homosexuals.

About 110 gay rights advocates had booked one car on the 13-coach train from San Francisco-Oakland and dubbed it the "freedom train."