Malia Riggs
Elmore Autauga News
Updated Dec. 5 2024 – Citing safety concerns, the City of Prattville has removed the Prattville Pride float from the lineup at the Christmas Parade. See updates at Prattville Officials Remove Prattville Pride Float From Christmas Parade, Citing Safety Concerns – Elmore-Autauga News
The City of Prattville and the city’s attorney addressed the looming concerns over the annual Prattville Christmas Parade and the participation of the Prattville Pride organization. Comments and posts regarding differing opinions have started to surface over Facebook in the past week, and now in a public setting at the Prattville City Council meeting Tuesday evening.
City attorney Andrew Odom stated that the city will face constitutional challenges if officials attempt to prohibit Prattville Pride’s float in the parade. Odom stated that if they were to prohibit their participation that it would be a prior restraint speech, which is not only prohibited under Alabama State Law, but also Federal Case Law, Odom confirmed.
“In this situation, the speech has not occurred yet. So, you can’t narrowly tailor something and prevent it before it has happened. Just like any other applicant to the float, they submitted an application and were approved. So, they should be allowed to participate in the parade. They’re subject to all the rules and regulations that any other float would be. But my opinion based on what I know so far, I would not advise the council to engage in any type of prior restraint for speech that has not occurred yet,” Odom said.
The debate started last week when the Clean Up Alabama group called to have the Prattville Pride organization removed from the parade in an email to the city. The group wrote their own ordinance and called for immediate action in the email. This email was shared with Elmore Autauga News by an anonymous source.
The ordinance written by Clean Up Alabama displayed in the email reads, “Any sexual or gender oriented material or conduct that knowingly exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentation, or activities in K-12 public schools, public libraries, and other public places where minors are expected and known to be present without parental consent to be exposed to that conduct or material should be prohibited.”
The email stated concerns of Prattville Pride joining the parade celebration where their concerns centered around children’s safety and innocence during the parade, not celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, trans and pride flags being on display, Prattville Pride being in alleged violation of parade rules, Prattville Pride making the parade not family friendly, and more.
“I am emailing to express my concern with the Prattville Pride joining the Christmas Parade this year. Over the summer they held a “family-friendly” pride event that included drag queens dancing for CHILDREN. 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,” the email from Clean Up Alabama to the City of Prattville states.
However, during the public comment portion of the City Council meeting, countless members on either side of the argument stated their opinions and concerns. Members and allies of Prattville Pride stated that they want to celebrate like everyone else and that they want people to choose inclusion and not hateful rhetoric due to their participation.
“They are not opposing our participation based on anything we’ve done, but simply because of who we are. Let me be clear, we have given you no reason to believe we will act inappropriately during this or any city event. The people spewing hate are making it abundantly clear that their goal is not to protect anyone, but to erase us entirely. But we do exist. We are citizens of this community, just like they are. And when nearly 3,000 people show up to a small-town pride event (the First Prattville Pride Celebration last June), it should be clear that there is a true need for our organization and advocacy, and that we refuse to be forced back into the shadows to satisfy their discomfort,” Caryl Lawson said at the Prattville City Council.
Councilman Robert Strichik asked Lawson questions from his constituents, asking if herself and Prattville Pride have read the parade rules, where Lawson responded yes. Strichik also asked Lawson if there will be any drag participants or female impersonators on the float, and Lawson stated that there will be one sitting on the float in a tasteful evening gown.
Lawson stated that the participant will be waving like a beauty queen and that there will be no drag performances or dancing.
Strichik went on to ask Lawson if the Prattville Pride organization will be handing out any literature geared towards the indoctrination of any children, and Lawson’s response was “absolutely not.”
“In response to recent concerns, we want to clarify that our participation in the parade is about community, togetherness, and holiday cheer. We are committed to following all event guidelines and ensuring we don’t disrupt the festivities. Our goal is simply to join in the celebration, just like any other group. As an LGBTQ+ organization, we understand there may be misunderstandings, but we want to make it clear that we’re not here to sexualize the event. Our presence is about spreading love, kindness, and community spirit. LGBTQ+ people celebrate Christmas, too. We’re here to show that we are all part of the same community, deserving of respect and celebration. Just as other groups share their traditions, we believe Pride and the holiday season can coexist in harmony. We look forward to contributing to the festive spirit and spreading joy in Prattville,” Adam Hunt, President of Prattville Pride said in a statement.
However, over 10 members of the community made their opposition of Prattville Pride’s participation in the parade known. One community member stated that this organization is not suitable for the Christmas Parade, and that they don’t have the right to influence children. Almost all members in opposition stated their religious beliefs in their opinion of opposition.
Sarah Sanchez, a supporter of Clean Up Alabama, stated that she’s troubled by the dueling visions being cast for the future of the community. Stating that if we’re pulling out of the church’s involvement with anything, praying before public meetings, in public spaces and even the Christmas parade should be scrapped all together.
“What are we doing? We’re being pulled between two things and we’re using logic that doesn’t allow anything to come to let us reason together and find a way to protect our children. We don’t need to be isolating people and banishing them from the community. That is not the dichotomy that we’re advocating for here,” Sanchez said.
A statement put out by the City of Prattville states that the City is committed to fostering a thriving, safe and vibrant family friendly community for all of Prattville residents.
“We will continue to monitor all aspects of our parades to ensure all persons are served and respected equally while maintaining a safe Christmas Parade event for us all. Any violations of the event rules will be dealt with appropriately,” Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie said in a statement on behalf of the City.
Clean Up Alabama responded for a statement on December 5, their statement reads “It’s deeply disappointing that the Prattville City Council failed to take a clear stand against drag queens performing at a Christmas parade attended by children. Over a year and a half ago, citizens warned the council about this issue and requested a city ordinance. After confirming the city’s approval of a pride group in the parade, we asked again for an ordinance, only to be told by the city attorney at the recent council meeting that it’s now too late to act. It is crucial that our leaders remain accountable to the values of the community they represent. We call on the Prattville City Council to take responsibility for their inaction and ensure that future decisions prioritize the safety and appropriateness of events for all families.”
Updated December 5, 2024
