NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today a federal judge signed an order that blocks the city of Murfreesboro and officials from enforcing its anti-LGBTQ+ ordinance during the BoroPride festival weekend—protecting the free speech and expression of Murfreesboro residents and drag performers.
The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU, Ballard Spahr, and Burr Forman against the city of Murfreesboro on behalf of the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), founder and host of the annual BoroPride Festival.
The lawsuit alleges that the Murfreesboro mayor and city manager engaged in a yearlong, concerted anti-LGBTQ+ campaign to chill TEP and Murfreesboro residents’ protected speech and expression, culminating in the city establishing an official policy prohibiting the issuance of permits to TEP; discriminatorily and unconstitutionally denying TEP’s request for a permit for 2023 BoroPride; and implementing a sweeping and vague ordinance designed to censor any LGBTQ+ speech or conduct within the Murfreesboro community or from TEP.
The order blocks enforcement of the anti-LGBTQ+ ordinance during the weekend of the BoroPride Festival, which takes place on Saturday, October 28 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Miller Coliseum, 304 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro.
Today’s order confirms that the community’s free speech rights will be protected at the BoroPride Festival as litigation continues and as the court takes up the assertions in the lawsuit that the defendants’ actions restrict protected speech and expression because they disagree with its content, its message and its messenger, and discriminatorily chill the free speech rights of Murfreesboro residents in violation of the First Amendment.
The following can be attributed to TEP executive director, Chris Sanders:
“We are relieved that the court has taken action to ensure that Murfreesboro’s discriminatory ordinance will not be enforced during the BoroPride festival. We look forward to a safe, joyful celebration of Murfreesboro’s LGBTQ+ community.”
American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, ACLU, Ballard Spahr, and Burr Forman issued the following joint statement:
“We are grateful that the court has temporarily blocked the anti-LGBTQ+ ordinance and protected the free speech and expression of Murfreesboro residents and drag performers during the BoroPride Festival. This festival creates a safe space to celebrate the freedom of self-expression and cultivates community, solidarity, and joy among LGBTQ+ community members. LGBTQ+ people should not have to live in fear of being targeted by their local elected officials and we will continue to protect this space and the free speech rights of Murfreesboro residents until this ordinance is struck down for good.”
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