Mississippi city settles with LGBT group over pride parade

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Mississippi city has agreed to pay attorneys’ fees and proclaim support for LGBT rights to settle a lawsuit over its denial of permission for a gay pride parade.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill tells the Commercial Dispatch that aldermen approved the agreement 4-1 Friday.

She says the city will pay $12,750, which includes fees for attorneys representing Starkville Pride, the group that sued. The city reversed course and issued the permit after the lawsuit.

About 2,500 people took part March 24 in Starkville’s first-ever LGBT pride parade.

Spruill says the agreement requires her to issue proclamations supporting LGBT History Month in October and supporting equal citizenship under the law. She says she will also meet regularly with a liaison from the city’s LGBT community, which she’s “certainly happy” to do.

___

Information from: The Commercial Dispatch, http://www.cdispatch.com