Tennessee Town that Banned ‘Public Displays of Gayness’ Walk it Back After Lawsuit
In late June of this year, residents of Murfreesboro in Tennessee passed an ordinance that critics say banned all public displays of homosexuality. At the time city officials were particularly concerned about banning Pride parades after last year’s festivities saw marchers in various stages of undress, and a “family-friendly” drag show saw the performer twerking and acting out sexually in front of children- something LGBTQ love seeing, but normal folks despise.
The city of 157,000 banned “indecent behavior” and “that (which) may be judged as … harmful to minors,” which includes “indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct.” At the time it was passed, Section 21-71 of their ordinance utilized language that was crafted nearly 50 years ago, where displays of ‘sexual conduct’ included homosexuality, likening its lewdness to be on par with public masturbation and prompting activists to cry foul.
While there are no criminal charges associated with breaking the ordinance, perpetrators who violate the rule would be banned from hosting public events or selling goods and services for two years, with a five-year ban given to folks who do this in front of kids.
After a First Amendment lawsuit from LGBTQ activist groups, a federal judge blocked the city from enforcing its rules during a Pride event last month. This led officials to “revoke their ban on public gayness,” removing ‘homosexuality’ from sub-section 71 while leaving most of the June ordinance intact, much to the chagrin of Pride supporters who really, really want to dance suggestively in front of children and engage in sexually transgressive behavior.
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James Duncan is going to go to jail for the way he throws a baseball.