Alabama city pulls Pride float from Christmas parade

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama city has blocked an LGBTQ+ pride group from participating in the city’s annual Christmas parade because of “safety concerns.”

The Prattville mayor’s office announced Thursday that it was pulling the float sponsored by Prattville Pride from the parade lineup, WSFA-TV reported. Prattville Pride had registered several weeks ago to participate in the Friday parade.

Mayor Bill Gillespie Jr. said it was brought to the city’s attention from the group that there are “serious safety concerns” regarding Prattville Pride’s participation in the Christmas parade, according to a statement.

The statement did not elaborate on the concerns.

“The city will not put the rights of parade participants ahead of the safety of its citizens. Because of the safety concerns for Prattville Pride, other parade participants, as well as parade bystanders, the city has made the decision to remove Prattville Pride from the Christmas parade,” the statement from the mayor’s office read.

Prattville Pride President Adam Hunt told The Associated Press that the organization has “no comment at this time.” He said the organization has retained legal counsel.

Prattville is a small city of about 40,000 people, just north of the capital of Montgomery.

Some people had urged the city to block the group from participating in the parade.