Gay pride event tests the First Amendment

By: Mike Deeson

St. Petersburg, Florida - Although last year's St. Pete Pride event was considered a success, organizers say it was marred by protesters who carried signs, used bullhorns and were allegedly abusive.

"They were telling little girls that they were going to Hell because they were there with their mommy," says St. Pete Pride board member David Schauer. "They were trying to pick fights."

Schauer says it was a bad situation that "came a step away from becoming nasty and violent."

In hopes of avoiding last year's problems, the city passed an ordinance limiting where people could protest. But the American Civil Liberties Union says that even if the St. Pete Police Department doesn't make any arrests, it is violating people's First Amendment rights of free speech.

"There is a chilling effect on free speech," says Rebecca Steele of the ACLU. "Even if no one is arrested, the fear of being arrested is enough to stop you from speaking. That's a First Amendment violation."

The ACLU sent the city a letter, saying the ordinance is too broad, that it was clearly motivated by hostility toward one particular type of speech and the city cannot regulate speech based on the viewpoint expressed.

Steele adds that the ordinance is so vague that it "basically allows the city to control speech on an event-by-event basis."

But David Schauer says his group should be able to have the parade and festival free from protesters. "St. Pete Pride is not a governmental organization. They have no right to petition us. We don't have to listen to them."

Ironically, the ACLU is marching in the parade. But the organization says it feels compelled to make sure protesters can be heard too.

"If we don't stand up for the First Amendment rights of the people we disagree with, then the First Amendment doesn't mean anything," Steele says.