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Florida County Sued over Gay Pride BanA strip-club owner filed suit October 18 against Hillsborough County, Florida, claiming that its policy banning county agencies from promoting or participating in Gay Pride events is unconstitutional. Joe Redner, free-speech advocate and owner of Tampa’s Mons Venus strip club, told the October 19 St. Petersburg Times that the policy violated his First Amendment rights to receive information at local libraries.The lawsuit names six of the seven county commissioners, excluding Commissioner Kathy Castor, who voted against the measure. Redner said the policy constitutes a “prior restraint on protected speech” that fails to “further a compelling government interest.” Equality Florida, a gay and lesbian rights group that has opposed the policy, was not involved in bringing the lawsuit, according to Executive Director Nadine Smith. The October 19 Tampa Tribune said gay-rights advocates have been reluctant to sue because the county hasn’t moved to enforce it, other than ordering the removal of two exhibits at the Tampa–Hillsborough County Public Library’s John F. Germany branch in June. Posted October 21,2 005. |
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