An Alabama anti-LGBTQ+ organization is trying to get an LGBTQ+ Pride group kicked out of a local Christmas parade because it claims the group will display transgender Pride flags or drag queens in violation of the parade’s “family friendly” policies against political messaging and “lewd and offensive” entries.
Prattville Pride was the first local group to pay the fee to join the city of Pratville’s annual Christmas parade. The group also said it will abide by the parade’s rules. However, when an anti-LGBTQ+ group called Clean Up Alabama found out about the Pride group’s inclusion, it sent out an email asking its supporters to pressure the parade’s organizers to remove Prattville Pride from the event.
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“The Christmas parade is a celebration of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah. It is NOT a time to celebrate someone’s sexual preferences. And it is certainly not a place for a drag show,” Clean Up Alabama wrote in its email, according to the Alabama Political Reporter.
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The group, which first formed as a movement to ban LGBTQ+ titles from the children’s and young adult sections of the Prattville Library, urged its members to contact the parade’s organizing council and demand Prattville Pride’s removal, writing, “The parade rules clearly state that ‘the city reserves the right to reject any parade entry for any reason whatsoever, and to determine participation based on suitability for the occasion.’”
“We know this is NOT suitable for the occasion and that you have the power to stop it,” its email read. “[The display of trans Pride flags and drag queens] would be in violation of parade rules which state that ‘political views are not allowed as decoration, in music, or otherwise by any parade participant,’ AND it also states that lewd or offensive entries will not be approved by parade officials.”
Clean Up Alabama wrote that the city must remove Prattville Pride from the parade and pass a city ordinance that “protects children in public places.”
In a statement to the aforementioned population, Prattville’s Pride’s founders wrote, “As the first organization to sign up, we were eager to join in the holiday magic and celebrate alongside our neighbors. In response to recent pushback, we want to emphasize that our participation is rooted in the same spirit of joy and togetherness as any other group. As a pride organization dedicated to fostering inclusivity and support for marginalized communities, our goal is simply to build connection, spread love, and contribute to the festive spirit of the season. We look forward to celebrating the holidays with everyone in Prattville.”
The town’s Mayor Bill Gillespie said the city will “ensure all persons are served and respected equally while maintaining a safe Christmas parade event for us all.”
Prattville has a population of 39,318, 67.74% of its population is white, and 20.93% is Black.
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