Birmingham (Ala.) mayor (D) denies gay parade permit

[mitchtv]

xpost from late breaking: thanks Newsjock

Source: Birmingham News

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."

Read more: http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/n...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Langford
Langford, a Democrat was elected to the county commission in 2002

[Syrinx]

1. he has reversed his position

A gay pride parade planned for next month on Southside will go on as planned, according state Rep. Patricia Todd. Todd said she spoke to Mayor Larry Langford on Saturday morning and he assured her a parade permit would be granted from the city.

The 20th Gay Pride Parade, sponsored by Central Alabama Pride, will be June 7 in Five Points South. The parade is part of the annual Pride Week celebration.

Todd said the mayor has also agreed to meet with leaders of the gay community next week. Langford said on Friday that he would not sign a proclamation for the event, allow banners on city property or sign a parade permit. Langford had said he turned down the requests because it was inappropriate for government to endorse a lifestyle.

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/05/todd_langford_says_he_will_all.html

[mitchtv]

2. Thanks, I 've cross posted your reply

with the same title, GLBT forum. where is is being chewed on.