Just when you think you've seen remarkable progress, even in places long ago associated with intolerance, along comes a shrill yet sad leader like Birmingham Alabama's current mayor Larry Langford.
According to the Birmingham News:
Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford won’t sign a proclamation for an annual gay pride celebration or allow banners on city property, and said he will not grant the sponsoring group a parade permit.
Langford said he turned down the requests this week from Central Alabama Pride because it is inappropriate for government to endorse a lifestyle. Pride Week is next month and often includes a parade on Southside and other events.
"My policy is don’t ask because it’s not my business, and don’t put me in the position to make it my business," Langford said Friday. "I don’t condone it, but I also am not sitting in judgment on anyone."
UPDATE FROM BIRMINGHAM NEWS:
Mayor Larry Langford said today he will not interfere with plans for a gay
pride parade next month on Southside, but he still refuses to sign a proclamation or allow banners on city property.
LINK TO NEW STORY
Needless to say, Birmingham's current Mayor has proven controversial before. In fact, he's currently under investigation by the SEC for accepting $156 thousand in cash and benefits for Jefferson County Bond business and benefits.
He also found some recent public transit ads on buses that informed city residents about the area's high syphilis rates offense and had those pulled just last week.
He worried that companies might not want to locate in the city after reading about the high STD rates.....
Truth be told, they may rather skip relocation to a place where the mayor is widely known as a bit, shall we say, reactionary.
Oh, and yes, Birmingham DOES have a viable and active gay community:
Profile of B,ham's gay community at EDGE
For those who care to raise a voice:
Birmingham Mayor's office:
(205) 254-2277