PRATTVILLE — Prattville Pride participated in the city's Friday Christmas parade without a previously announced drag queen performer after a federal judge compelled the city to allow the float and provide it with additional police protection.
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.
Prattville Pride later requested an injunction against the city, claiming there was no evidence of any safety threats, seemingly contradicting Lawson's email.
U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. ruled on Friday afternoon that the city must allow the float to participate and mandated extra police escorts.
Even though Lawson and others stated that drag queen Alee Michelle Sapphire would ride the float, he was not present at Friday's parade.
Video shows the float was a giant star festooned with rainbow tinsel, with riders throwing candy at attendees. The only visible Pride insignia was carried by gentlemen in the front, who held a trans flag with a fist in the middle. A bicycle-riding Prattville Police officer could also be seen following the float.
The parade seemed to garner a significantly smaller crowd than it has traditionally done, which appears to be confirmed by social media photos. This is unsurprising since social media was filled with dozens of commentators stating they would boycott the parade due to the kerfuffle. However, an exact attendance is impossible to determine.
Additionally, at least two groups announced they were pulling their floats from the parade due to Prattville Pride's inclusion, and others are rumored to have pulled out as well. The Prattville Parks and Rec Department has not responded to 1819 News for days regarding the number of floats that pulled out.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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