"Advocacy organization Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group first held the Pride fest in 2023 in the town's public square without incident. It drew about 200 attendees. The next year, however, following the election of a new mayor and council members, the town passed a burdensome ordinance that effectively overturned prior approval of the group's 2024 permit request. The group refiled its application in compliance with the new rules, but that permit request was ignored. A subsequent lawsuit by the group changed city officials' minds; the permit request was approved, and the Pride fest was on for a second year. Attendance grew to about 350 people, according to court documents."
"Patoka Valley filed its request for a 2025 event soon after, but once again, town officials didn't respond. In January 2025, the city council amended the permit process once more; while they finally approved a 2025 permit, the new ordinance barred the group from holding the event in the town square. In August, district court Judge Richard L. Young agreed, entering a permanent injunction preventing the enforcement of the city's 2025 ordinance; Patoka Valley held its 2025 festival in September."
Loogootee officials enacted successive ordinances and procedural changes that hindered Patoka Valley AIDS Community Action Group's efforts to hold an annual Pride festival. The group held an initial 2023 event in the town square with about 200 attendees. After a 2024 ordinance overturned prior approval and ignored a permit request, litigation produced approval and a second festival with roughly 350 attendees. For 2025 the council amended permit rules again and barred use of the town square, prompting another lawsuit claiming First Amendment violations. A district judge entered a permanent injunction against enforcement of the 2025 ordinance, allowing the 2025 festival to proceed.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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