Birmingham (Alabama) mayor denies gay parade permit

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford won't sign a proclamation for an annual gay pride celebration or allow banners on city property, and said he will not grant the sponsoring group a parade permit.

Langford said he turned down the requests this week from Central Alabama Pride because it is inappropriate for government to endorse a lifestyle. Pride Week is next month and often includes a parade on Southside and other events.

"My policy is don't ask because it's not my business, and don't put me in the position to make it my business," Langford said Friday. "I don't condone it, but I also am not sitting in judgment on anyone."

...

"I don't think I'm intolerant, I just don't condone the lifestyle," he said. "Your personal lifestyle should be nobody's issue but yours. It's not a civil rights issue, it's a personal choice issue."

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/inde....xml&coll=2

[jundp 191]

Langford said he turned down the requests this week from Central Alabama Pride because it is inappropriate for government to endorse a lifestyle. Pride Week is next month and often includes a parade on Southside and other events.

Yet somehow appropriate for the government to ban peaceful assembly?

And don't laws governing marriage endorse a lifestyle?

Just saying. He should have said "a certain lifestyle."

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

and?

[dalegg 143]

Are these people crazy? Do they think it would actually be safe to have a gay pride parade in Birmingham?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I guess good ol' fashioned hate lives on in the deep south

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

I guess good ol' fashioned hate lives on in the deep south

did you ever think maybe the mayor does not have the budget to pay overtime to the police to protect this? plus answer to the taxpayers for it?

[Sheriff Uling 3]

I guess good ol' fashioned hate lives on in the deep south

Have you seen a gay parade?!? Whoa! The way they act, I'm surprised they haven't been banned in more places. Goodness!!! Let's put it this way, any other parade would be heavily scrutinized, but since it's a gay parade, they get to act as overtly sexual and repulsive. It's like watching a gay Calvin Clien comericial in costumes. Ewww!!! I'm sure that I'll here it from the VJ gay support groups on this one...

Edited May 24, 2008 by Sheriff Uling

[Mark&Steph 0]

I went to a gay pride parade once in Chicago. It was a lot of fun. It's not every day you get to see a grown man in a dress made entirely of Ken dolls. *nods*

[Alhamdulillah 0]

If only there were more mayors like this in this country.

[Peikko 1,575]

Yes, US society should hide its 'dirty little secrets'. Bravo Mr Mayor, a step forward into the brave new world of 'don't ask, don't tell' and the curtain twitchers. I certainly don't need those nasty gay people holding hands where I can see them!

[Alhamdulillah 0]

Yes, US society should hide its 'dirty little secrets'. Bravo Mr Mayor, a step forward into the brave new world of 'don't ask, don't tell' and the curtain twitchers. I certainly don't need those nasty gay people holding hands where I can see them!

Holding hands?

Have you ever seen a gay pride parade?

As long as we're parading immorality in the streets, why not line up all the convicts in the local prisons and let them make cute little floats to flaunt their sins? It would be so darling.... they could make sparkling banners detailing their individual crimes and everything!

[Peikko 1,575]

Homosexuals are not criminals nor should they be compared to them.

However, I understand that some religious people feel the need to sneer at others just because they might be different call them sinners and immoral. You might think that's nice behaviour, personally I think that kind of intolerance is sick.

Edited May 24, 2008 by Purple_Hibiscus

[Mark&Steph 0]

Holding hands?

Have you ever seen a gay pride parade?

As long as we're parading immorality in the streets, why not line up all the convicts in the local prisons and let them make cute little floats to flaunt their sins? It would be so darling.... they could make sparkling banners detailing their individual crimes and everything!

I'd be all for it. It would certainly be a lot more interesting than that horrendously long and dull Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

Homosexuals are not criminals

I guess that depends on where you're at.

[Peikko 1,575]

I am 'at' the US and this parade was to take place in the US so I guess we are discussing what's permissable in the US not some country ruled by nutters.