Phoenix’s latest Pride Festival, endorsed by Mayor Kate Gallego, sparked outrage for flouting public decency standards despite being advertised as “family friendly.” An article by Corinne Murdock in the AZ Free News writes:
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego apparently took no issue with the displays of the parade or festival at large.
“Phoenix Pride never disappoints!” said Gallego. “Phoenix is a city that values our LGBTQ+ community, and that’s not changing while I’m mayor!”
The event, marred by explicit content including an inflatable genitalia costume and “condom bars,” appears to have blatantly ignored the city’s policy against political or ideological controversy in mayoral proclamations. Furthermore, the presence of explicit sponsors like Castle Megastore and an “Erotic World” tent questioned the event’s “family-friendly” moniker. According to Murdock:
Gallego’s proclamation appears to conflict with city policy, which states that mayoral proclamations “must not take sides in matters of political, ideological, or religious controversy, or individual convictions.”
The involvement of Gilbert’s fire and police departments raises questions of further misuse of taxpayer funds. Murdock writes:
Gilbert’s fire and police departments also made an appearance at this year’s Pride Festival parade, despite controversy last year over whether they misused taxpayer funds to attend last year’s parade.
See the full story here [Warning, original story is uncensored].