SAN FRANCISCO – It's the type of event that cities usually salivate over: more than 20,000 teenagers, all with a keen interest in pop culture, plenty of chaperones, and pockets full of disposable income.

But when the group in question is a Christian ministry from Texas that condemns homosexuality, and the place is San Francisco, often referred to as "the gayest city in America," the civic welcome wagon collapses pretty quickly.

A two-day event called BattleCry started Friday at AT&T Park, the downtown baseball stadium. Organizers say the gathering, which includes performances by Christian rock bands and inspirational speakers, is a way for young Christians to speak out against what they view as destructive cultural elements, including sex on television, obscene music and violent video games.

"This culture is really hammering this generation," said Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania, the Garden Valley, Texas-based ministry that sponsors BattleCry. "Whether it's being accosted with horrible sexually suggestive messages or the garbage in the video game world, corporate America is raping and pillaging American teenagers. And everyone is just walking by."

But several prominent San Francisco political leaders say Mr. Luce's group is the one doing the damage, using its young members as a conduit for a message of intolerance.

"They are being fed, spoon-fed, hate," said Tom Ammiano, a member of the city's Board of Supervisors who is gay.

Aaron Peskin, the board's president, called BattleCry "reckless and irresponsible."

"We need to increase understanding of our human differences, not teach our kids to be suspicious and hateful towards people unlike them," Mr. Peskin said.

It is not the first time that BattleCry has gotten the cold shoulder from San Franciscans. The group held a concert here last year, an event that was greeted by a resolution from the Board of Supervisors calling BattleCry a "right-wing Christian fundamentalist group" trying "to negatively influence the politics of America's most tolerant and progressive city."

BattleCry officials complain that the city has made their lives difficult by imposing noise restrictions on a planned celebration this morning. City officials said the restrictions came after numerous complaints about last year's event.

With high-profile evangelical supporters like the Rev. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, BattleCry is just one part of Mr. Luce's campaign to energize young Christians, who many leaders worry are leaving the church. BattleCry events are planned this spring in Baltimore and Detroit, with dozens of smaller "Acquire the Fire" events in other cities.

The New York Times