U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. ruled on Friday that the City of Prattville must allow a pride float featuring a drag queen to participate in the City’s planned Christmas parade on Friday, also mandating extra police escorts LGBTQ group responsible.
Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie pulled the float from the parade on Thursday after receiving an email from Prattville Pride vice president Caryl Lawson, citing safety concerns for Prattville Pride members and parade attendees and asking for additional police escorts.
After Gillespie announced he was pulling the float, Prattville Pride filed an injunction, which stated:
"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 individuals threatening the safety of anyone at the 'Christmas in Prattville Christmas Parade,' and that the decision to remove Prattville Pride from the 'Christmas in Prattville Christmas Parade' is nothing more than the City of Prattville and Mayor Gillespie bowing to the pressure from extremists and hecklers in the community who oppose the views of Prattville Pride,"
On Friday, after an apparent telephone hearing, Huffaker ruled that Prattville Pride must be allowed to participate and the city must provide at least two officers to escort the float.
“At the hearing, the City admitted that the City can easily require two officers to escort Prattville Pride’s float during the two-hour long parade and that it would not be burdensome to do so,” Huffaker wrote. “The Court struggles with how the City’s decision to remove a law-abiding parade participant could ever survive any level of scrutiny when the more easily tailored, and reasonable, response is to simply implement additional security measures, such as two or more law enforcement officers who can walk with the float on the parade route and make an arrest if an egg, water, or rock is thrown.”
Prattville Pride swiftly released a statement applauding Huffaker’s decision.
The Prattville city attorney cautioned the city council not to intervene earlier this week, citing First Amendment concerns. In the aftermath, at least one parade participant, St. Joseph's Catholic Church, announced it was pulling out of the parade due to the pride float.
Social media, specifically local Facebook groups, have been divided on the issue since it came to light. Many opposed expressed disgust and displeasure at the float's inclusion in an ostensibly religious holiday celebration. Those supportive of the inclusion have likewise criticized those opposed, with accusations ranging from religious bigotry to outright hate.
Clean Up Alabama, the group founded out of the Prattville library controversy, has spearheaded efforts to remove the float from the parade. After Gillespie's announcement, the group released the following statement:
"We've been vocal about our concerns with Prattville Pride being allowed to sexualize the Prattville Christmas Parade, but threats and violence are unacceptable. Clean Up Alabama does not condone threats or violence. We continue to pray for those we disagree with and hope the authorities will deal with this situation appropriately."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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