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Second Conway,
Ark., gay pride parade to follow different route

Second Conway,
Ark., gay pride parade to follow different route

This year's gay pride parade in Conway, Ark., scheduled for Sunday, will follow a different route from the event staged in 2004, according to city officials, because last year's parade was marked by protests and arrests and there are fears that this year's event poses a "credible threat potential" for the community. Organizers aren't pleased. "We feel it is blatant discrimination to not allow us the same route that we had last year," Robert Loyd said. "I think they're afraid that people will start to accept us. There will be more community spirit, more diversity and understanding." But city officials said Thursday the route was changed from downtown for safety reasons after three arrests were made related to last year's parade. Two former radio station personalities faced felony charges for allegedly distributing a sexually explicit DVD to a minor, and a cattle farmer spread three tons of manure along city streets in protest of the parade. The city said in a statement that its goal this year is to separate protesters and marchers. "These are not disinterested parties but highly motivated people who passionately hold polarized positions. Reducing involuntary interactions is necessary based on this event having a more credible threat potential than other parades in the city of Conway," the city said in a statement. "Security and logistical concerns must be taken into greater consideration." Conway mayor Tab Townsell said in a statement that a boost in commercial businesses downtown and the anticipated increased size of the event also prompted the route change. "We are taking every effort to ensure that the civil rights and safety of all concerned are protected and upheld," Townsell said. "We invite the use of our public spaces as host to the full expression of everyone's American freedoms." Conway officials said police worried the city would be held liable for any injuries or damages that occurred during the parade. After the parade this year, the city plans a debriefing session to find ways to improve handling the event. "The city's response next year will not be predicated so much on this year's route, logistics, and staffing but from what we can glean from our experiences over the past two years," the city said. Loyd's partner, John Schenck, said Thursday that organizers support having a designated protest area. Though they are upset about the change, he said, they will march down the new route. "We are law-abiding citizens, and we will do what they told us to do," Schenck said. "We're not happy, but we'll do it." Schenck said the group would take up their issues with the mayor's office later. Last year the couple said they received death threats and hate mail before the parade. But things were quiet this year until the mayor changed the route, they said. "We are human, and we have the exact same rights as any other group," Loyd said. "We are relegated to second-class citizens again. It's just wrong on all levels." (AP)

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