County Board Sued for Banning Gay Pride

-- Library Journal, 10/21/2005

The Hillsborough County Commission's decision last year to ban county participation in gay pride events has now generated a lawsuit. Joe Redner, described by the St. Petersburg Times as an "activist and strip club owner," has sued all but one of the commissioners—one opposed the decision—charging that they "imposed a ban on one particular group but not on any other groups" and their actions constitute a "prior restraint on protected speech." The policy grew out of a protest against a library display on gay pride. Redner charged that gays were being singled out. The suit said the defendants "have not targeted other groups or topics featured in library displays."