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Letter to the editor

Protests to be limited at gay pride parade

By STEPHANIE GARRY
Published June 8, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Times photo: Bob Croslin] Jerry Taggart kisses partner Roy Livingston in front of antigay protesters who made their way down Central Avenue during the St. Pete Pride festival in 2006.

ST. PETERSBURG - Attempting to avoid a repeat clash between preachers and participants at this year's gay pride festival, the City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to beef up restrictions on public demonstrations.

People who violate the conditions of an event permit now can be fined or arrested. For this year's parade, signs and megaphones are banned unless they're used in a designated protest zone.

"This is a direct result of what happened last year at the pride festival," council member Jamie Bennett said. "What went on no one should hear."

Last summer, preachers from the Biblical Research Center in Tampa trailed the parade and paced the festival, calling patrons "sodomites" and "filthy," holding signs that declared homosexuality an "abomination" and telling people they were going to hell. Festivalgoers were furious; some threw beads and drinks.

At this year's June 30 event, people who want to voice their opinions with signs or sound amplification will have to do it in a protest zone on 27th Street and Central Avenue.

Maj. Melanie Bevan, who oversees the police force that will work the event, said she hopes the ordinance will allow officers to strike a balance between the rights of the protesters and participants.

She said police weren't expecting such a controversial demonstration last year. They mostly played defense, following the preachers and preventing fights.

"We're not going to handle it the way we did last year," Bevan said. "The pride festival has received a street closure permit, and they do have some rights."

Brian Longstreth, coordinator for St. Pete Pride, said he hopes the changes will prevent confrontation and assuage the worries of participants who were appalled by last year's display.

"We couldn't believe they could be as disruptive as they were," Longstreth said of the protesters. "Enough is enough."

But Larry Keffer, who led the group, said the ordinance is an attempt by the city to supersede the First Amendment. He said his preachers need megaphones to be heard over the din of the crowd.

He said he and other protesters would come back in force despite the restrictions.

"That's our most coveted right as American citizens, and it's been infringed upon," Keffer said. "Not to mention the fact that they're promoting a sodomite parade, a parade that glorifies sexual deviancy. What's next, a pedophile parade?"

He told council members how he felt on Thursday, but some weren't sympathetic. Bennett called his preaching a "hateful and filthy diatribe." Jeff Danner said he'd never heard their claims in the Bible or in church.

Council member Herb Polson pointed out that the new rules will apply to any permitted event, including First Fridays.

The council also proclaimed June as St. Pete Pride Month on Thursday, as it has for the past few years. Mayor Rick Baker has never signed the measure. He has said that he doesn't support St. Pete Pride's "general agenda."

Still, Longstreth is confident the event will survive the controversy and continue to grow. Last year, 50,000 participants dwarfed the handful of protesters, and he expects this year's turnout to be even bigger, with lessons learned.

"It reminded a lot of people of why the pride celebration is important," Longstreth said.

Times Staff Writer Aaron Sharockman contributed to this report.

[Last modified June 8, 2007, 01:33:41]