Posted on 12/06/2024 6:47:40 PM PST by TigerClaws
A few hours before the city of Prattville’s annual Christmas parade was to start, a federal judge ordered the city to allow an LGBTQ pride group’s float to be included.
Prattville Pride called the order “a powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility, representation, and inclusion for all members of our community,” in a Facebook post.
“The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity.”
“While we celebrate this important step forward, we must also acknowledge the challenges and hateful rhetoric that have been directed towards our organization and the LGBTQ+ community during this process. Such negativity can have a profound and damaging effect on LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, who often face heightened risks of isolation, mental health struggles, and rejection.”
In his order, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker of the Middle District of Alabama wrote: “While there are areas of unprotected speech, such as incitement of violence, the City makes no argument and provides no evidence that Prattville Pride has engaged in any speech or behavior that would remotely fall into an unprotected speech category. It is undisputed that Prattville Pride has complied with the City’s regulations.“
“The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way. But discrimination based on a message’s content “cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment,” the order continued.
The lawsuit stemmed from Prattville Pride’s proposed float, which will feature a drag queen throwing candy at spectators.
Mayor Bill Gillespie pulled the float, saying the city “will not put the rights of parade participants ahead of the safety of its citizens,” according to the Elmore Autauga News.
“Plaintiffs believe that the evidence in this action will show that the City of Prattville and Mayor Gillespie had no legitimate concerns or credible evidence of any threats to public safety, that no criminal investigation or charges were brought against any individual threatening the safety of anyone,” according to the complaint, filed by Adam Hunt and Caryl Lawson.
The plaintiffs said Gillespie is “bowing to the pressure from extremists and hecklers in the community who oppose the views of Prattville Pride.”
AL.com was unable to reach the mayor’s office. Prattville Pride told AL.com they’re waiting on a ruling from the judge before commenting further.
“No.”
Judges like this should be hung upside down by the ears. Orders!
What about the Freedom of Association?
Your move.
NO.
Just ignore the order. Judicial overreach.
This is what a local Chamber of Commerce is for.
When did judges become the ruling branch of the US Government?
Click bait, nothing more. Try and find where this is and where through the interminable ads to the article. The clowns at Scroogle finally figured out how to make their billions—a tsunami of ads with every movement of your mouse on any website—trying to navigate around their ads. Don’t blame them, everyone wants to make a buck, but this is absurd.
Is it an LGBTQ pride group or just a T pride group?
I suspect the parade float will be nothing more than grown men in Sailor Moon dresses.
Of course they should be allowed to have their float as long as they comply with all the regulations like all other floats.
What’s the matter with some people? If they can deny this group they can deny your group. Read the Bill of Rights.
Cancel the parade and have the local churches sponsor one.
When we abandoned the practice of Tar and Feathers.
Put them at the end of the parade. Put 20 horses well-fed on green grass in front of them.
Ignore the Judge’s decision...Obama and Biden always have.
Cancel the City-run parade, and maybe a private club or church will hold one, maybe not.
Exactly.
I agree.
Wrong.
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