St. Petersburg, Fla., officials are sticking with plans to limit free speech at the city's homosexual festival this weekend, after fighting off complaints they are creating unconstitutional "free speech zones." Instead, the city will be limiting some signs and banners to an area "adjacent to the Permitted Street Closure Area."
At last summer's festival, preachers from the Biblical Research Center in Tampa trailed the parade and paced the festival calling festival attendees "sodomites," held signs that declared homosexuality an "abomination," wore T-shirts and shouted slogans through bullhorns that condemned homosexuality.
Those attending the festival were furious; some pelted the preachers with beads and drinks, and nearly incited riots.
In an attempt to curb a repeat clash, the city council met to create a system governing outdoor events, and proposed a "free speech zone" at the event,...
