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Loading ...Alabama mayor asks court to nix gay suit
11.06.2008 4:11pm EST
(Birmingham, Alabama) Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing him of violating the civil rights of a gay pride group.
Central Alabama Pride accuses the mayor of acting unconstitutionally when he barred city workers from hanging pride banners on city property in June.In a motion filed with the U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Langford’s attorneys said the group cannot show it suffered any harm and as a result the case should not be allowed to moved forward.
The motion said that the pride celebration went on as planned.
Central Alabama Pride in its lawsuit claims the mayor has not restricted banners from other organizations. The suit also said there is no criteria for hanging banners in Birmingham.
The group said in the suit that Langford subjected the group to religious discrimination, violation of the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause, and violation of the freedom of speech.
Langford said that he did not discriminate against anyone and that the city only hangs banners for groups sponsored by the city.
The mayor called the suit a frivolous publicity stunt.
“The parade took place as planned, and all of plaintiff’s decorations were hung,” the motion filed by his attorney said.
“In essence, the parade of 2008 was the same as all other years. Plaintiff does not claim that having to hang the banners itself in any way injured the parties either physically, mentally or emotionally. In other words, plaintiffs cannot point to a concrete and particularized injury.”
Langford refused to sign a gay pride proclamation that was passed by the city council in May and said at the time he would deny the group a parade permit.
The permit was eventually granted by the Birmingham Police Department and Langford did not interfere.
He still says he opposes gay pride celebrations and signing gay pride proclamations, but denies that he discriminates.
A judge has yet to rule on Langford’s motion.
a redneck is a redneck is a redneck
(with apologies to GS)
Bud Clark
San Diego CA
Mayor Langford, Obviously is a bigot of the highest level and the worst kind. He definitely seems to forget what it is like to be an “oppressed minority”, and that he represents ALL of the people of his city…..but then again this is Alabama and I guess we are lucky no one was hung or shot over it. Can’t believe he is a democrat and acting like this big of a jerk. “Welcome to ALABAMA,now set your clocks back to the Civil War ya’ll!” Sad…
Hiding behind the cloak of religiousness to deny one group rights that were/are available to othe
r groups is discrimination pure and simple. This is not what Jesus would do.
Sadly, the Mayor is an African American. His views are consistent with 70% of black voters who voted to support bigotry against gays in California. Oh the irony of it all… I guess some folks only feel good if they are hating others. Very sad. Thank god for the progressive, educated northeastearn part of this nation (somewhere I predict that I will be moving to in the future).
He’s a bigot and I can smell that all the way from Indy.
So what are we doing about it? Who here lives in his town? Have you gone to public meetings and spoken out? Have you pointed out his religious bigotry is stupid, because there is no god, and against his oath, as he is a secular leader?
Perhaps locals will donate the money needed to put up ffrf’s “Imagine No Religion” builboard in town.
Take some action folks. Ranting won’t help.
IMPORTANT - Please sign the petition at http://www.mormonsstoleourrights.com to strip the Mormon Church of its tax-exempt status.
Please help spreading the word.
Thanks a lot.
Bud… FYI, Larry Langford is NOT A REDNECK. He is BLACK, just like the same ones that voted Yes for prop 8 in Cali…
I am feeling VERY VERY HATEFUL right now. I didn’t realize so many blacks were just that ignorant and mean. I guess learning can be hard.
Larry Langford
… Black Democrat
…. Change You Can Believe In.
Bud Clark….I live in Birmingham…..the mayor is black….
Let not discrimeate against anyone.Just because he is black, doesn’t mean he can’t be a “red neck”…..treat everyone equally now people.
Why is it, when we elect democratic presidents, we get disappointed, ie Carter, Did nothing, Clinton dadt doma, Obama, 4 set backs under his victory. Makes me want to go republican. At least, when they say they wont support you they mean it. At least their honest.
Kid Donohue: So you think that it is better to vote for the person who will NOT support you than the person who says they will but then is pressured under political force to not risk political suicide? Logic tells me that you are a republican already and simply look for anything you can to spoil any attempt at democrats to right all the myriad terrors brought on to us by the republicans. Why don’t you just go ahead and admit it. You are sociopathic and are in desperate need of some Lithium. As for me, I’ll vote for the person who says they are on my side. Even if compromises are necessary. Maybe you should just go ahead and realize that you are a self-hating psychotic who will never realize that you are the bane of all gays!
Ok, sorry for the previous rant against Kid Donohue. Look, I am just as p’d off that I can be about the losses we as gays suffered again over our rights. I shouldn’t have lashed out at you, so I apologize. What I should have said is that we glbt need to unite like the republicans and religious people did. We must be one voice. A Voice of Truth and Civil Liberty. I know that it is frustrating that we vote people in who we think will help us but then don’t do as they promised - that’s politicians for you.
The fact is, we will never be able to get someone in political power to be our true ally. And there will ALWAYS be mistakes and errors in judgement. The only thing that matters is that we stand up to those who hate us or who hide behind religious discrimination against us. We all know we didn’t ask to be this orientation. The trick is to show the world that we aren’t going to go parading around half-naked peeing on each other. We need to show the hidden side of us who are simple, wholesome, family-oriented, talented, intelligent and very very interested in being socially accepted. Even though that may be a symptom of co-dependence, it is only natural for humans to be social and want to be accepted. It’s high time we got what’s ours. How many centuries have we been tortured, maimed, oppressed and even killed? Thousands of years can be healed so quickly in a simple act of tolerance, acceptance and enlightenment by the public. We have Truth in our corner and in time, we shall overcome!!!
What, Dave Wimberly,
Do you honestly think that people here aren’t pissed about this? Of course they are, and of course they raise concern, good questions, and awareness. I don’t know where you got the idea that activism isn’t happening.
The truth of the matter is that this guy is off his rocker. People take what he says with a grain of salt. The few people who aren’t too busy fighting his antics are, in fact, the people who have brought on this particular suit.
I would suggest that you, Mr. Wimberly, stop your ranting.