A federal judge ruled Friday that law enforcement officials can’t use a Tennessee law that strictly limits drag shows to interfere with a local Pride festival this weekend, favoring event organizers who sued after a district attorney warned he intends to enforce the new statute even after another federal judge ruled it unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer in Knoxville granted a temporary restraining order that prevents District Attorney Ryan Desmond and other local law enforcement officials from enforcing the state law or interfering with the Blount County Pride festival scheduled for Saturday. That includes no discouraging of third parties from hosting or modifying the event, including the venue of Maryville College, the judge wrote.
For any interested. I’m from Blount County. I went to pride. It was a great time. Love kindness and friendship all around.
An acquaintance working the checkin booth said they caught one of the known instigators trying to sneak in, but apart from that, everything went great.
Also, just saying, but their motto this go around was spectacular - “There’s pride in them/their hills.”