Title: Franklin, Tennessee Faces Backlash Over Controversial Pride Festival
Subtitle: Right-wing activists and conservative residents clash with organizers over drag performances
Date: June 24, 2023
Franklin, Tennessee – The city of Franklin, Tennessee, found itself at the center of a heated controversy after right-wing activists and conservative residents portrayed the local Pride festival as a threat to children. Last year’s drag performances at the Franklin Pride celebration sparked a national scandal, leading to a divisive debate over the future of the event.
The small city, located 20 miles south of Nashville, became a battleground for opposing views on LGBTQ+ rights and the appropriateness of drag shows in public spaces. The controversy escalated when footage of the drag performances circulated online, prompting some members of the community to campaign against granting a permit for this year’s Pride event.
In response to the growing tension, Tennessee Governor approved a law in early March aimed at limiting drag performances in public spaces, further fueling the debate in Franklin. Opponents of the festival argued that it was inappropriate for children to be exposed to drag performances, while supporters emphasized the importance of acceptance and community for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Spencer Lyst, a 17-year-old member of the Franklin Pride Advisory Board, spoke out in defense of the festival, stating that Pride is a vital outlet for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate and be with their peers. Lyst highlighted the misconception that drag is inherently sexual, emphasizing that it is a form of artistic expression.
The controversy reached its peak when the city’s governing body deadlocked over granting a permit for the Pride festival. Ultimately, Mayor Ken Moore broke the tie in favor of the event, but not without issuing a warning that any violation of trust would result in the festival never happening in Franklin again.
Despite the challenges, the 2023 Franklin Pride festival took place at the Park at Harlinsdale Farm. The event implemented strict security measures, including bag searches, metal detector scans, and a visible police presence. Protesters gathered outside the festival, holding signs and shouting at attendees.
The debate over Pride events and LGBTQ+ rights has intensified across the country, with conservative-led states passing legislation targeting these rights. Brands and city officials have faced backlash for their support of LGBTQ+ individuals, while some celebrations have defiantly moved forward.
Franklin’s experience reflects the broader struggle between conservative values and the push for LGBTQ+ acceptance and equality. The city, known for its deep Christian and conservative roots, is grappling with demographic changes and population shifts brought on by the pandemic.
As Pride Month continues, the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the future of Pride celebrations remains uncertain. The attorney general of Tennessee, backed by some Republican lawmakers, has signaled plans to appeal the ruling that overturned the drag ban, indicating that the battle over LGBTQ+ rights is far from over.
In the face of adversity, LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies continue to advocate for acceptance, equality, and the right to celebrate their identities.Title: Franklin, Tennessee Faces Backlash Over Pride Event Amidst Controversy
Subtitle: Right-wing activists and conservative groups protest against the city’s Pride celebration
Date: June 24, 2023
Franklin, Tennessee – Last year, the city of Franklin, Tennessee, held its first Pride festival, which included drag performances. However, the event quickly became a national scandal when footage of the drag shows circulated online. This year, the city found itself at the center of a heated debate as right-wing activists and conservative groups portrayed the Pride event as a threat to children.
The controversy surrounding the Franklin Pride festival began when some members of the community launched a campaign to deny a permit for this year’s event. They argued that the drag performances were inappropriate for children and should not be allowed in public spaces. In response to the growing tension, Tennessee Governor approved a law aimed at limiting drag performances in public spaces, further fueling the debate in Franklin.
Despite the opposition, the Franklin Pride Advisory Board, which includes a teenage member named Spencer Lyst, fought to keep the festival alive. Lyst, who identifies as gay, emphasized the importance of Pride as a celebration and a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. He spoke out against the misconceptions surrounding drag performances, stating that they are not inherently sexual.
The debate over the Pride festival reached a boiling point in early March when the city’s governing body deadlocked on the issue. The tie-breaking vote came from Mayor Ken Moore, who ultimately approved the festival but warned that it would be closely monitored. The decision was met with mixed reactions, with some feeling anxious about the increased scrutiny, while others saw it as an opportunity to put on a great event.
On June 2, the night before the festival, a federal judge ruled the anti-drag law unconstitutional, providing some relief for the organizers. However, they had already promised the city that there would be no drag shows this year. Despite this setback, the festival proceeded with heightened security measures, including bag searches and metal detector scans.
The controversy surrounding the Franklin Pride festival reflects a larger trend of conservative backlash against Pride events across the country. As several conservative-led states pass legislation targeting LGBTQ+ rights, Pride Month has become increasingly contentious. Brands and city officials have faced boycotts and rebukes for their support of the LGBTQ+ community.
In Franklin, the debate over Pride highlights the tensions between the city’s conservative roots and its growing diversity. The demographic changes brought on by the pandemic, including an influx of transplants from more liberal areas, have intensified the conflict. The city is grappling with how to navigate its identity while accommodating different expectations and beliefs.
Despite the challenges, the organizers of the Franklin Pride festival remain committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community. They hope that in the future, they will be able to reintroduce drag performances and continue celebrating Pride without controversy.
As Pride Month continues, cities and communities across the country are grappling with similar debates and challenges. The fight for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance remains ongoing, and events like the Franklin Pride festival serve as a reminder of the progress that still needs to be made.This City Had Quietly Celebrated Pride Before. In 2023, That Was Not an Option.
After right-wing activists portrayed a Pride event in Franklin, Tenn., as a threat to children, the small city unexpectedly found itself at the center of a backlash.
Last year, drag shows at the Franklin, Tenn., Pride celebration turned into a national scandal. We followed a teenage member of Franklin Pride’s board during this year’s embattled process of throwing a small-town Pride festival.
As dozens of cars snaked their way onto the grounds of a refurbished horse farm on a sweltering June afternoon in Franklin, Tenn., a few volunteers stood at the entrance, cheerfully welcoming visitors to the local Pride festival.
The greeting, the volunteers said, also gave them a chance to spot any person who didn’t wave back or smile, someone who might harbor more malicious intentions.
There were bag searches and scans with a metal detector. Across the street, a man in a white nationalist fight club T-shirt carried a poster with a homophobic slur. A SWAT team waited on the outskirts of the celebration.
The layers of precaution underscored what had become an unexpectedly volatile situation not only in Franklin, a city 20 miles south of Nashville, but also across the country as right-wing activists have assailed established Pride celebrations and commemorations as a threat to children.
In Franklin, permission to hold the 2023 Pride event came only when the mayor, Ken Moore, chose to break a tie in favor of the festival. His vote capped a vitriolic debate over drag queens having performed in front of children the previous year, an issue that left the city’s governing body deadlocked and exposed painful divisions in the community.
In the decades since the first march commemorated the Stonewall Inn uprising in 1970, Pride events have flourished. But this year, as several conservative-led states have pushed through legislation targeting L.G.B.T.Q. rights and transition care for transgender minors, Pride Month is increasingly on shaky ground across the country.
Brands like Bud Light have faced boycotts over their support for L.G.B.T.Q. people, while Target reduced the prominence of its annual Pride collection in stores after employees were threatened.
City officials across the nation have rebuked proclamations recognizing Pride Month or allowing the rainbow Pride flag to be flown on municipal property. And a Kansas man was indicted on federal charges after he posted online threats against this weekend’s Nashville Pride.
At the same time, some celebrations defiantly moved forward: Memphis Pride Fest booked its largest lineup yet of more than 50 drag performers, despite a Tennessee law targeting drag performances that has since been ruled unconstitutional.
In Franklin, Jed Coppenger, the lead pastor at Redemption City Church, said he saw many in his congregation wrestle with what they felt comfortable seeing in schools and in public, as conservatives opposed books or media that featured L.G.B.T.Q. people.
“We’ve all been in the ocean when it pulled you, and you don’t realize until you look back at the beach,” said Mr. Coppenger, who said he personally opposed the festival. “There are definitely a lot of currents at play, and there are some new ones.”
Franklin, founded in 1799 and now home to nearly 90,000 people, and surrounding Williamson County have proudly anchored their identity in an idyllic blend of American history and affluent development. Agricultural and equine industries coexist with large corporate and nearby manufacturing hubs. The patriotic bunting, historic churches and manicured downtown are offset by landmarks commemorating some of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War and the removal of the Chickasaw from their tribal lands.
The city, which is about 80 percent white and 6 percent Black, has retained deep Christian and conservative roots, while working to navigate its fast-paced economic growth and the nation’s shifts on diversity and civil rights. Several community leaders highlighted the decision to add a statue of a Black soldier who fought for Union troops to downtown in 2021, rather than remove a statue of a Confederate soldier that has long loomed over the public square.
The demographic changes and population shifts brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, some residents said, are significant driving forces behind the intense conflict over Pride. Franklin offered
Tontown, with increased security measures in place. Law enforcement officials were present to ensure the safety of attendees and maintain order. Despite the controversy and opposition, the festival was able to create a safe and inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community
Ions have defiantly moved forward, determined to create safe and inclusive spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. The Franklin Pride festival is one such event, facing scrutiny and opposition but staying committed to its mission.
The controversy in Franklin began last year when footage of drag performances at the Pride festival went viral. Right-wing activists and conservative residents argued that exposing children to drag shows was inappropriate and demanded that the event be shut down. This year, the tensions escalated even further when the Tennessee Governor approved a law aimed at limiting drag performances in public spaces.
Despite the opposition, members of the Franklin Pride Advisory Board, including 17-year-old Spencer Lyst, fought to keep the festival alive. Lyst emphasized that Pride is an important celebration and safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, countering misconceptions about drag performances being inherently sexual.
The debate reached its peak when the city’s governing body deadlocked over issuing a permit for the festival. In the end, Mayor Ken Moore broke the tie and approved the event, but with a warning that any violation of trust would result in the festival never happening in Franklin again.
The 2023 Franklin Pride festival took place at the Park at Harl
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“What started as a celebration of love and acceptance has unfortunately turned into a contentious struggle for identity and representation. The pride festivities in Franklin have become a microcosm of the larger societal debates, reminding us of the challenges we still face in achieving true equality for all. Here’s hoping that 2023’s turbulent festivities can serve as a stepping stone towards a more inclusive future.”