HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii is suing Honolulu city and county officials for excluding gay groups from a parade next week.

The ACLU filed suit Friday in U.S. District Court.

According to the complaint, the city and the Hawaii Christian Coalition promoted the July 5 "Family Day Parade" as co-sponsors.

But after gay groups repeatedly tried to join, the suit says the organizers claimed the event was privately sponsored only by the Christian Coalition.

Gay groups say over the years they have had to fight to put on their own gay pride parade and they can't understand why the city has pumped taxpayer money into promoting the Christian Coalition event.

"The city is jumping though hoops to help them with the parade," said gay rights advocate Ken Miller. "What kind of equality is that?"

City spokeswoman Carol Costa says the event is not organized by city and county officials and the rules are up to the Christian Coalition.

Hawaii Christian Coalition representative Garrett Hashimoto says as the main sponsor of the family parade, the Coalition can legally exclude who it wants.

"We don't want (a) political or personal organization's agenda in this parade," he said.

Hashimoto says it would be inappropriate for a group promoting a gay lifeystyle to march in what is essentially a children's parade.

A hearing in federal court is set for July 1 at 3 p.m.