Vote On Application For Franklin Pride Festival Pushed Two Weeks Despite Massive Opposition To Event
Image Credit: Franklin Pride / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –
This week, at Franklin City Hall, the Board of Mayor and Alderman postponed a vote that would have decided whether to approve a permit application submitted by Franklin Pride for their annual Pride Fest that is scheduled to occur in June of this year.
In its third year in existence, the festival has continued to draw controversy, especially after last year’s drag show, which featured performers with names like “The Blair Bitch” (pictured below).
It’s a promise from Franklin Pride that they will not be hosting any type of drag shows this year and will ensure that the festival stays “family-friendly” which is the premise for their application to host the event in a public space owned by the city of Franklin – Harlinsdale Park.
Earlier this year, Governor Bill Lee signed into HB0009/SB0003 into law, now on the books as Public Chapter Number 2. As enacted, the law creates an offense for a person who engages in an adult cabaret performance on public property or in a location where the adult cabaret performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult. – Amends TCA Title 7, Chapter 51, Part 14.
Last month at the BOMA work session in Franklin, only 2 of the 8 Alderman, Alderman Beverly Berger (R-Ward1) and Alderman at Large Gabrielle Hanson, expressed their lack of support for the current application for the use of Harlinsdale Park for the event this year, in light of what occurred last year, and the fact that the legislation was pending in our state General Assembly. Last night they had another opportunity to take up the matter and had announced that would finally be taking a vote.
Public comment was allowed for nearly the first hour of the work session, and included spokespeople from groups like Gays Against Groomers, Moms For Liberty, and Tennessee Stands, all grassroots organizations that advocate for the protection of Tennessee’s children from exposure to the sexually inappropriate activity that is traditionally featured at events like Pride-Fest.
After listening to the nearly 40 speakers who opposed the application, and encouragement for the board to reject it, all in the presence of the additional 100 plus Franklin residents also in opposition, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. It was time to vote.
It was then Alderman Jason Potts (Ward 3) moved to postpone the vote until the outcome of a resolution proposed that night by Alderman Beverly Burger (Ward 1) which would adopt a community decency policy in all of Franklin’s public spaces, could be discussed and resolved. Potts argument was that the resolution is passed, would have an impact on the application, so it made sense to wait.
There was an audible collective groan from those gathered who had endured nearly 4 hours of the work session, and then meeting, only to possibly be pushed off another 2 weeks.
The motion was seconded, and then passed by a vote of 5-3. Many there were frustrated and felt the board members who voted to postpone were stalling and lacked the courage to make the decision they had been promising to make for months.
We encourage readers to contact the list of Alderman and Mayor Ken Moore below and express your opinion about Pride Franklin being held in Harlinsdale Park. We would also encourage those who are able to show up for the meeting at Franklin City Hall on April 11th.
Beverly Burger 1st Ward: bev@aldermanburger.com
Matt Brown Ward 2: Matt.Brown@franklintn.gov
Jason Potts Ward 3: alderman.potts@franklintn.gov
Patrick Baggett Ward 4: patrick.baggett@franklintn.gov
Clyde Barnhill Alderman At Large: clyde.barnhill@franklintn.gov
Gabrielle Hanson Alderman At Large: Gabrielle.Hanson@franklintn.gov
Ann Petersen Alderman At Large: annpetersen@comcast.net
Brandy Blanton Alderman At Large: brandy.blanton@franklintn.gov
Mayor Ken Moore: ken.moore@franklintn.gov
About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member. Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
To the good people of Franklyn:
Let these freaks have their freak fest. Require it be on private property, zero on-street parking. no view of any activities can be visible from the street from all directions, and most important “AGE RESTRICTED to 18 & Above” so everyone must enter thru a gate check.
Your town is too small to accommodate the volume of freaks that will swarm your downtown. Most important for the public areas – Enforce the Decency Laws on the books and arrest any of those who feel a G-String & Pasties or skin tight see thru body suit on grown men in public is appropriate attire.
Oh my goodness—if this were ANY other festival celebrating ANY other sexuality it would be considered laughable, vulgar, degrading or “phobic”. Imagine a Straight Day where buxom women and hot men were extolling their virtues to all the Little Bubbas and Sissies in the community! It would be declared pornographic, anti-feminism, or based. And that would be true. For that matter, what about festivals for other sexual “preferences” that just haven’t quite made it to mainstream YET—why aren’t they allowed too? Shame on the parents who want to deprive these underage tikes of their innocence, regardless of the persuasion. Why is it ok to use public spaces to flaunt THIS kind of sexuality and not others? Good grief—no one is forbidding anyone from living how they please in the privacy of their own home as long as it doesn’t harm or infringe on the rights of others, but stop flaunting ALL sexuality in public. Period. In my opinion, the individuals who won’t stand up for protecting children’s innocence and representing the taxpayers who elected them, and keeping their town a safe place for EVERYONE, they either have no spine or they are part of the problematic culture that’s gotten us to this sad place in the first place.
it’s quite amusing that there is an assumption of vulgarity with anything that is related to the queer community, a sure sign of fear of what you don’t understand. I also find it quite funny how and curious how they will enforce this ‘decency law’, yep.. no way that will be subjective based on who’s currently holds power.. Look at the cheerleaders at a Titans game, wholesome family dancing right there, or maybe we’ll take them to a WWE event where scantily clad women and men jump and beat the crap out eachother (and we encourage kids to cheer for it.. yep, family values). The behavior in Nashville on broadway, party busses and the activity that always ensues with those events. Won’t even mention the Pilgrimage festival and the drunken and lude behavior, public urination and intoxication that happens there.. i’m sure that is ‘decent’, right? to the first poster, why are these individuals ‘freaks’, because they’re different than you? that’s one hell of a generalization and a small minded one at that.
Lastly, public demonstrations in Franklin. how about that church group that blasts their music every saturday night and prays to the giant stone obelisk in the square.. they can force those views on everyone, but a festival that i hosted for people to attend (if they wish) is not welcome.. interesting indeed.