LGBTQ Group Banned From Iowa Labor Day Parade

LGBTQ Group Banned From Iowa Labor Day Parade

It sounds like one very bigoted man used his position to continue the fundamentalist Christian rights goal of wiping the LGBTQIA from the public view and society. Remove move us, a genocide of a group of people they don’t like. Deny the LGBTQIA their rights all people should have and that the fundamentalist straight cis Christians insisted they alone should have. Plus by claiming it was blocked because of the threats of violence from the very groups doing the enforcement work of the very bigotry he and his kind push he was supporting that terrorism against the LGBTQIA. Plus in his message he says the real reason he wants the pride people excluded. He doesn’t want sexual indentation or sexual orientation to be promoted. In other words, just keep that shit to yourself in the privacy of your home, something no one ever has said to straight cis people flaunting their sexual orientation or affections via holding hands or kissing in public. In fact the religious groups love to publically push straight couples getting married. Hugs

The Associated Press reports:

A local LGBTQ pride group was excluded from a southwest Iowa town’s Labor Day parade, apparently by the city’s mayor, who cited safety concerns. Shenandoah Pride planned to have a small group walking with a banner and a drag performer riding in a convertible, with candy, popsicles and stickers to hand out in the parade in Essex, Iowa, said Jessa Bears, a founding member of the group.

Essex Mayor Calvin Kinney spearheaded the decision, with no motions or city council vote. Council Member Heather Thornton, who disagreed with the move, said “it was the mayor himself,” and added she was told he had the authority and didn’t need a council vote. Kinney did not immediately respond to an email from the AP regarding the decision. The AP’s phone calls to City Attorney Mahlon Sorensen went unanswered.

Cedar Rapids’ ABC affiliate reports:

The ACLU of Iowa sent the city attorney a letter Saturday urging the city to let the group participate. The letter included a Thursday email from the mayor that cited safety of the public and parade participants in not allowing “parade participants geared toward the promotion of, or opposition to, the politically charged topic of gender and/or sexual identification/orientation.” Thornton said she knew of no threats.

A local LGBTQ pride group was excluded from a southwest Iowa town's Labor Day parade, apparently by the city's mayor, who cited safety concerns. https://t.co/S8VpLQu0QE
— Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) September 4, 2023

liondon#traitortrash2 days ago

“Tax paying citizens denied public services”.

There… fixed it.

bambino2 days ago

Safety concern is the gun carrying fascists intent to cause harm. Deal with that!

crewman bambino2 days ago edited

Your ex-husband said he bought a gun to kill you, so we decided it’s in your best interest to lock you in prison for your safety.

This is just today’s new pretext to oppress speech of citizens who the government has decided are undesirable.

Ann Kah2 days ago

They want to forestall violence by going after the victims. Do they still question rape victims about “What were you wearing?”

ErnestMc 2 days ago

Ah, the old “safety concerns” excuse. They must have been studying some Russian manuals on how to keep LGBT people out of sight.

bambino2 days ago

Women and children should be excluded from the march out of safety concern. They may incite rapists to rape. /s
This is the sign of a spineless politican who has no place in holding any office.

evanedwards2 days ago

Under those conditions, anyone who participates in the parade is geared toward the opposition of LGBT rights. Because, anyone who supports LGBT inclusion could not participate in such a parade.

evanedwards2 days ago edited

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

another_steve 2 days ago

Put Republicans in public office and this is what you get.

Fire & Smoke Crown2 days ago

the politically charged topic of gender and/or sexual identification/orientation

And who exactly is making our existence “politically charged”?

Unfuck that mayor and every other public official like him.

Name 2 days ago edited

We can’t have any parades unless it’s straight Christian white people now, because Nazis.

Jean-Marc Canada – ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ2 days ago

I see, we’re now at the “make them invisible” stage of fascism. The camps are not far off kids, make no mistake about it.

Friday2 days ago

LGBT people existing in public is now “Politically-charged?” Uh, no, we’re *under attack* The ‘opposition’ to us existing in public are the only ones with the problem in the first place, and it doesn’t help when they can force towns to silently comply with the Christofasccist Right.