GRAND FORKS – Despite the publicity, there was little mention of local politics at the first event held in Grand Forks by the faith arm of conservative youth organization Turning Point USA.
The subtitle for Monday’s “City Happenings” event was more to the point: “Addressing Cultural Issues from a Biblical Perspective.”
That primarily meant a socially conservative Christian perspective. Anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and attacks on public education were not the sole focus Monday night, but they were one of its features.
“Don’t throw anything at me,” Kurt Chaffee, lead pastor at New Song Church in Bismarck, joked to the roughly two dozen people gathered at the former Ferguson Books & More! location at Grand Cities Mall.
Chafee, the father of TPUSA Faith organizer Naomi Blomke, focused his remarks as a pastor on addressing “gender ideology,” naming former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, a known activist against allowing transgender athletes in women’s sports, and implying that neglect and sexual abuse negatively impact “people with sexual or moral issues.”
New Song has alienated many former members by turning to partisanship and airing its Turning Point USA radio show on low-powered radio stations, Forum columnist Rob Port reported in March.
Andrew Sletten, senior pastor of Antioch Church in Fargo, told attendees that the media, entertainment, sports and government are all working “to advance an agenda that is simply anti-Christian,” before going on to attack Pride Month and “Will & Grace,” the hit NBC sitcom known for featuring gay men as main characters.
Blomke, a freshman law student at the University of North Dakota, argued that anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric was a fair target for participants.
“We’re a branch of faith,” Blomke said, “and if pastors want to talk about it and it’s in line with what Turning Point and (Turning Point USA founder) Charlie Kirk want to say, then that’s OK.”
Blomke has previously described himself as “pro-two gender”.
Greg Boles of Calvary United Pentecostal Church highlighted the “horrific philosophy of evolution” being “force-taught” to students in public schools.
Bromke said the event was not politically motivated, but U.S. House candidate Alex Barras and public schools superintendent candidate Jim Bartlett attended and announced their presence during the question-and-answer period.
Both men are endorsed by the North Dakota Republican Party in their respective elections.
Bartlett told the audience he would dismantle “far-left, anti-Christian” organizations like teachers unions and state education departments.
Similarly, Barrass criticized North Dakota’s state delegation for “pushing for” critical race theory and measures related to diversity, equity and inclusion in education.
Local politics were mentioned when a member of the audience complained about the city’s “Pride in the Park” event, saying it uses taxpayer funds.
“I always tell people they should run for something,” Chaffee said. “They should be more vocal.”
Joshua Irvine covers K-12 and higher education and the Grand Forks County Commission for the Grand Forks Herald. He joined the Herald in October 2023.
