Larry Langford is the first mayor of Birmingham since the creation of the Central Alabama Gay Pride Parade started in 1988 to refuse to sign off on a city proclamation. The proclamation would have allowed the hanging of banners or allowing a parade permit. However, the Birmingham City Council passed a resolution without the Mayor to officially recognizing Central Alabama Gay Pride Week and the Birmingham Department of Public Safety went on and issued a permit for the parade as well. The banners were later hang by members and supporters of Central Alabama Pride along the city lightposts in Birmingham's Five Points South neighbhorhood where the parade has taken place for its 20-year run. Although Langford chosen not to interefere any further on the issuing of the parade permit, but this didn't prevent Langford from issuing this hypocritical statement: "The bottom line is I don't condone the lifestyle and what they were asking me to do in my official capacity as mayor was to issue a proclamation which in essence endorsed the gay lifestyle," Langford said. "If I had issued such a proclamation, I would in essence be saying that God's position is wrong and I wouldn't dare take a position against God. So as opposed to suing me, they need to be suing God, and the last time I checked, he can defend himself. End of story."
The lawyer representing Central Alabama Pride said that Birmingham hasn't set any ordinance with an objective criteria on banners on city streets and city property. Also the lawsuit alleges that the group was subjected to religious discrimination by the mayor after Langford chosen to establish a particular religious position. The counterclaim from the Mayor's office is that only city-sponsored or endorsed events are allowed the use of city workers to hang banners or use the city's right-of-way. The letter issued by Central Alabama Pride lawyer, David Gespass, on June 18th saying the Mayor has personal rights to be against the parade, but as a public official he is not allowed to deny city resources to the group's disposal. This is the same mayor that decided to have a city-wide prayer rally at a city-owned facility, Boutwell Municipal Auditorium. What's even more baffling is that fact that this very man, Larry Langford, was involved in a Jefferson County, Alabama school computer donation scandal that involved a federal investigation connecting Langford to former gay porn star Ryan Idol of all people. Langford has made the threat that if the organization's suit isn't successful then he is going to sue the group for harassment. Personal note: This guy is an ass that always likes to make claims of lawsuits of harassment. |
