City leaders delay Franklin Pride vote, say ‘community decency’ policy is forthcoming
Franklin's city board delayed a vote Tuesday on whether to permit a third city pride festival after hearing from citizens who filled the room, many wearing “Choose Decency” stickers.
An alderman presented a motion to push the vote back two more weeks until a new “community decency policy” could be approved.
About 30 concerned residents – most of them opposed to the Franklin Pride festival – signed up to speak during the city’s board of aldermen meeting.
Trisha Lucente, founder of Parents Choice Tennessee, was among them. She noted that Gov. Bill Lee and other state lawmakers had approved a law this month that bans “adult-oriented performances” from public property.
“Is our city prepared to enforce this law with national eyes upon us,” Lucente questioned. “The ACLU is waiting to litigate these laws, and which do you think will happen first? Here in our governor’s and senator’s hometown, or in another city in Tennessee? And, my guess is here.”
Later, Perri Suggett, a Franklin resident who is gay, said she likely had “more in common with this room than any gay or lesbian person."
"Please think about that. You can be Christian and be gay,” Suggett said. "It's getting very, very difficult to be a gay conservative."
"This is freedom of speech. Freedom of expression,” she added.
‘Community decency’
Alderman Jason Potts asked that a vote on the Franklin Pride permit be delayed until an April 11 meeting when the board could also vote on a “community decency policy” that would prohibit a group from using city spaces for two years if the group violates the policy.
The ordinance was first presented Tuesday at the board work session by Alderman Beverly Burger.
Possible resistance to reviewing the event permit for a third festival began last year after a drag performance. Multiple citizens contacted city elected officials following the 2022 event to voice their displeasure. The city event permit now requires a list of performers and more details about the acts.
The aldermen began discussing the permit in late February.
"I cannot, based under state law, take that chance and that risk for our constituents again,” said Gabrielle Hanson, city alderman at-large, during a Feb. 28 work session. “I would like a cooling off of a year before I can grant this activity in any of our public spaces."
More citizen comments
Larry Tomczak noted that Ellen DeGeneres had once criticized him for his views that people need to "guard" loved ones from gay "indoctrination and propaganda." He said he’s Christian, loves “all people,” and had attended 20 LGBTQ events.
"I can tell you my experience is not positive,” Tomczak said. "We can be deceived, just like this girl yesterday who took the lives of these children. She was deceived. Look at the results."
Franklin Pride president Clayton Klutts said the festival, which features live music, food trucks and arts-and-crafts vendors, has been “great” and appreciated by the local LGBTQ community.
“We want to show that Franklin is a place that’s inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” Klutts said.
Others were split on the issue.
Camille Babb asked the board to vote against the festival.
"I live near the park and would be very disappointed, personally and for our community, if we use public spaces for indecent entertainment as they did last year,” Babb said.
Spencer Lyst, a student, spoke in support of the festival and gay community.
"If this was an agenda, why would I choose to be gay?” Lyst said. "Why would my friends subject themselves to the violence and hatred that these groups of people have displayed?"
More:Pride Festival may return but Franklin leaders weigh 'risk' after drag law
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Franklin Pride Festival's return still uncertain as board delays vote
