This weekend sees the first ever Mardi Gras on Anglesey – an occasion described by the organisers as ‘the largest gay event ever in the history of north Wales’. Promising a festival atmosphere the organisers have a number of live musical acts and DJs to entertain the crowds, including the duo made famous by the XFactor – Diva Fever.

At the same time as the event the conservative group, Christian Voice, will be ‘witnessing’ to those attending by handing out tracts at the entrances to the event site. They will stay outside the site, however, and will do their work as people enter. Their core message will be that Jesus can release people from their homosexual tendencies.

Meanwhile some Welsh media outlets in reporting this story have referred to what the Christians are doing as a ‘protest’ and that North Wales Police have been informed of the situation.

And there you have in three short paragraphs a picture that should cause us to be very sad. A significant minority group historically feel so vilified and rejected by society that they feel they have no option but to set up events that are separate from mainstream life (though heterosexual people would be quite welcome in the event); a faith group in their concern for holiness (be they right or wrong on this particular issue) will add to that separation in society as they situate themselves outside the event; and a media that is so concerned about circulation numbers chooses to stir up even more separation by the way they report the story.

One day, the Bible tells us, ‘God will be all in all’. Could we not start working towards that goal now?