A federal judge overruled a small town’s decision to ban an LGBTQ+ group from participating in the annual Christmas parade, allowing the group to participate in the parade this last Sunday. The town of Prattville, Alabama, banned Prattville Pride after an anti-LGBTQ+ group, Clean Up Alabama, campaigned against the group’s participation, causing threats and requiring extra police security for the group.

However, U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker (a 2019 appointee of then-President Donald Trump) ruled that the town’s ban violated the group’s right to free speech. The group participated, but a drag performer who planned on participating didn’t ride the float as originally planned out of safety concerns. While Prattville Pride used the media attention to drive donations towards The Trevor Project (an LGBTQ+ youth anti-suicide organization), the anti-LGBTQ+ social media account, LibsOfTikTok, called Prattville Pride “garbage” for offering chest binders to transgender kids.

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Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie initially said the city would “ensure all persons are served and respected equally while maintaining a safe Christmas parade event for us all.” However, last Wednesday, Prattville Pride said it had received threats over its participation after Clean Up Alabama told its members that the group planned on violating the parade’s rules against “political” and “offensive” displays by displaying a drag queen and transgender flags on its float. Prattville Pride asked the city for two extra police officers to accompany its float during the parade.

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Then, last Thursday morning, the city government informed Prattville Pride that it was no longer allowed to participate, citing security and safety concerns for all of the parade’s participants and attendees. In response, Prattville Pride asked a federal judge to issue an injunction over the mayor’s decision.

On Friday, Judge Huffaker issued the injunction, writing, “[The] city makes no argument and provides no evidence that Prattville Pride has engaged in any speech or behavior that would remotely fall into an unprotected speech category. It is undisputed that Prattville Pride has complied with the City’s regulations.“

“The City removed Prattville Pride from the parade based on its belief that certain members of the public who oppose Prattville Pride, and what is stands for, would react in a disruptive way,“ Huffaker added. “But discrimination based on a message’s content cannot be tolerated under the First Amendment,“ The Birmingham News reported.

In response to the judge’s decision, Prattville Pride wrote in a public Facebook post, “This ruling is a powerful affirmation of the importance of visibility, representation, and inclusion for all members of our community. The Christmas parade is a cherished holiday tradition, and we are excited to celebrate alongside our neighbors and friends in the spirit of love, joy, and unity.”

“While we celebrate this important step forward, we must also acknowledge the challenges and hateful rhetoric that have been directed towards our organization and the LGBTQ+ community during this process,” the group added. “Such negativity can have a profound and damaging effect on LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly youth, who often face heightened risks of isolation, mental health struggles, and rejection.”

The group’s post encouraged people to donate to The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ youth anti-suicide organization.

Prattville Pride’s float featured a giant star covered in white and rainbow-colored cellophane atop a fluffy cloud covered in stars. The float’s riders threw candy, and a man walked in front of the float carrying a rainbow and trans Pride flag with a multicolored fist icon at its center. While a bicycle-riding Prattville Police officer accompanied the float, the drag queen didn’t appear on the float as originally planned, 1819 News reported.

In a public Facebook post, the drag queen Alee Michelle Sapphire explained, “For the protection of myself and others, I made the executive decision not to participate at last night’s parade…. I may not have been physically present in the seat, but just know I was there and was filled with so much love at the acceptance of our community after all of the backlash from prior announcements.”

Following the parade, LibsOfTikTok, a social media account run by anti-LGBTQ+ activist Chaya Raichik, noted that Prattville Pride provides free chest binders and other gender-affirming shapewear to trans kids. She posted screenshots showing that

“This is the same organization which boasted about having the ‘gayest’ Christmas parade float ever,” Raichik wrote. “This garbage is everywhere. They’re after your kids.”

LibsOfTikTok regularly accuses LGBTQ+ people and allies of “grooming,” “sexualizing” and “indoctrinating” children. Its social media posts have resulted in threats against LGBTQ+ teachers, all-ages drag performers, gender-affirming medical professionals, their allies, as well as children.

Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. The Trans Lifeline (1-877-565-8860) is staffed by trans people and will not contact law enforcement. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for youth via chat, text (678-678), or phone (1-866-488-7386). Help is available at all three resources in English and Spanish.

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