Miss. Gay Pride Parade Backers Eye Suit Over Denial
A Mississippi State University student who unsuccessfully sought a city permit for a gay pride parade and related events says she intends to sue the city.
Starkville aldermen voted 4-3 to deny the event permit Tuesday. None of the aldermen who voted against the permit have explained their reasoning.
Bailey Evans told The Associated Press that she contacted the Campaign for Southern Equality to seek a lawyer. The campaign connected her with Roberta Kaplan, a national leader in gay rights litigation, and a spokesman for Kaplan say she will represent Evans.
McDaniel says she and others wanted to have a parade to show the strength of the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Mayor Lynn Spruill and an alderman who supported the permit say Starkville is more accepting of gay people than the vote indicates.