A Belfast man has said he has been made to feel "oppressed and intimidated" by preachers in Belfast city centre using sound systems to speak on homosexuality.
After an encounter with a preacher discussing homosexuality in a "targeted and aggressive" manner while on his lunch break, Brian decided to launch a "peaceful counter" for those in the LGBT community.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Brian said: "I was working in the city centre at the time and during one of my shifts, I was walking past and had a rainbow lanyard on with my work pass on it. As I went past, a preacher yelled through the mic that 'the LGBT are a cancer to society'.
"I have been a victim of homophobic abuse and it triggered me to take some action. I thought that the next time I would bring my flag with me and counter them. He wasn't there for a while but one day on lunch break he reappeared.
"I was sitting peacefully and he went on to say the same thing so I took the flag out and I had a small speaker with me at the time, put a bit of music on and stood there peacefully."
Brian said that with this particular group, he found their message "very targeted" with "loud and aggressive language" that left many members of the public and surrounding businesses feeling uncomfortable.
He added: "If you are in town walking about, especially if you are young, you would feel intimidated by that. It is so oppressive sounding. I've tried having civil conversations with some of them and sometimes you think you are making headway but they will go back to the microphone and be homophobic."
The 34-year-old said he has witnessed preaching saying things such as: "Pray the gay away", "It would be bad enough for a country to legalise homosexuality" and that the 2018 fire in the Bank Buildings happened as a result of Primark supporting the LGBT community.
Brian said: "If it was any other group being targeted, it would be dealt with more seriously. It is disgusting and just unbelievable that it's happening.
"There are other preachers that are out there, preaching straight from the Bible. While they say things that others disagree with, with Biblical context it's fine."
At Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee this week, shop owners addressed elected representatives to plead with them to change local bylaws, so that amplification would be forbidden on city centre streets.
The appeal came as elected members received an update on draft amenity bylaws for the city, away from the public and press.
New bylaw proposals are currently being worked out in an attempt to confront issues surrounding noise levels and controversial content in protests and performance.
Brian continued: "I've had a staff member from a coffee shop come out, gave us a thumbs up and thanked us for doing this because the noise is so loud and what they are saying is disgusting.
"It is so loud that you can't hear yourself in shops or anything."
At the BCC committee, councillors listening to business impact statements recognised the need to look into the ongoing issues.
Sinn Fein Councillor Christina Black said: "The atmosphere is negative, and feels confrontational.
"It is not welcoming presently. Everyone has the right to protest, to gather, to express their own views, but there are definitely points in the city centre, where it is not conducive to a good retail, visiting or even walking experience for people who live in the city."
