In a significant victory for LGBTQ+ rights, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Tennessee, alongside legal partners Ballard Spahr and Burr & Forman, have reached a settlement with the City of Murfreesboro regarding its discriminatory ordinances and policies targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
The lawsuit stemmed from the city’s anti-LGBTQ+ ordinance and its refusal to grant special event permits to the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), organizers of the annual BoroPride Festival. Under the terms of the settlement, the city has agreed to several crucial actions:
- Compensation and Repeal: Murfreesboro will pay $500,000 in damages and reimburse attorneys’ fees. Additionally, the anti-LGBTQ+ ordinance will be repealed.
- Acceptance of Future Permits: The city will accept and process any future event permit applications from TEP.
- Prohibition of Discriminatory Practices: City Manager Craig Tindall, responsible for the ban on TEP permits, is prohibited from reviewing any future TEP permit requests.
Chris Sanders, Executive Director of TEP, commended the resolution, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding LGBTQ+ rights and enabling the continuation of BoroPride. “We celebrate the resolution of this case because it has guaranteed the rollback of a discriminatory policy and affirmed our right to host BoroPride,” said Sanders. “Now we can turn our attention to preparing for the 2024 BoroPride festival and defending the rights of LGBTQ+ Tennesseans at the state legislature. Our gratitude goes to the LGBTQ+ community for standing with us and to the legal advocates who championed the defense of free speech and expression.”
The lawsuit was initiated after a yearlong campaign by Murfreesboro officials, including City Manager Craig Tindall and Mayor Shane McFarland, aimed at suppressing LGBTQ+ speech and expression. This campaign culminated in the implementation of discriminatory policies, including the denial of permits to TEP and the enactment of a vague ordinance targeting LGBTQ+ speech and conduct within the community.
With the settlement reached, the parties involved are filing for the dismissal of the case, marking the end of the legal proceedings. In a joint statement, attorneys representing the ACLU of Tennessee, ACLU, Ballard Spahr, and Burr & Forman emphasized the significance of the settlement in upholding LGBTQ+ rights and condemning discrimination.
They stated, “The government has no right to censor LGBTQ+ people and expression. More important than the monetary recovery, this settlement sends a clear message that the city’s discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community was blatantly unconstitutional and that this type of behavior will no longer be tolerated here – or anywhere across the country.”
This settlement stands as a testament to the ongoing fight for equality and justice for the LGBTQ+ community, reaffirming the principles of free speech and expression for all. As Murfreesboro prepares for the 2024 BoroPride festival, this victory serves as a reminder of the importance of standing up against discrimination in all its forms.
