Iowa Mayor Blocks LGBTQ+ Group From Labor Day Parade, Citing 'Safety' Concerns
No threats had been received, according to parade organizers and participants.
Stay updated with breaking news from Cherry Peaks. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
No threats had been received, according to parade organizers and participants.
The group thinks the ban was a response to their plan to have a local drag performer join them in the parade.
The city of Essex told Shenandoah Pride it could not walk in the Labor Day parade, citing safety concerns. The group received an email less than a week before the parade, even though it notified the city months in advance of its participation.
The Associated Press learned Essex, Iowa, Mayor Calvin Kinney spearheaded the decision to exclude Shenandoah Pride from the parade.
A local LGBTQ pride group was excluded from a southwest Iowa town’s Labor Day parade, apparently by the city’s mayor, who cited safety concerns