Calif. City Denies Permit For Straight Pride Rally
Aug 14, 2019, 9:27 AM | Updated: Jun 8, 2022, 5:03 pm
FILE: The organizers of the Straight Pride march participate in a "Demand Free Speech" rally on Freedom Plaza on July 6, 2019 in Washington, DC. A city in California recently denied a license to another group that wanted to hold a straight pride rally. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
MODESTO, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California city has denied a request to hold a so-called Straight Pride rally at a park.
Modesto city officials on Friday denied an application by the National Straight Pride Coalition for an Aug. 24 event at Graceada Park.
Organizer Don Grundmann had estimated 500 people would attend. The group says it supports heterosexuality, Christianity and white contributions to Western civilization.
Opponents argued the rally would promote hatred of LGBTQ people and minorities.
City spokesman Thomas Reeves says the permit request was denied over safety concerns, because the group lost its liability insurance and the parks department determined the event wasn’t consistent with park use.
However, Reeves says the city would allow the rally at a downtown plaza if the group proves it has insurance by Tuesday.
