FL County Sued Over Pride Ban

TAMPA, FL -- Activist and strip club owner Joe Redner is suing Hillsborough County saying a June 15 vote by county commissioners to abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride events is unconstitutional.

The suit also names six commissioners individually - Brian Blair, Ken Hagan, Jim Norman, Tom Scott, Mark Sharpe and Ronda Storms. Commissioner Kathy Castor, who voted against the measure and has spoken out against it, was not named.

The Hillsborough County Commission passed the proposal June 15th. Redner argues that the policy violates his First Amendment right under the U.S. Constitution to receive information at local libraries. He says the commissioners "imposed a ban on one particular group but not on any other groups" and their actions constitute a "prior restraint on protected speech" that fails to "further a compelling government interest."

Joe Redner is asking the court to declare the policy unconstitutional, issue an injunction until a trial is scheduled and require the county to pay court costs.

"They should have known they were violating the Constitution," he said Tuesday. "My goal is to show them they are liable for doing that. . . . Someone has to call them on it."

County attorney Renee Lee said Tuesday afternoon the county had not yet received notice of the lawsuit, filed hours earlier.

"We're going to look at it," Lee said. "I will be really curious to see how the board's actions have impacted Redner more than any other member of the public, because I don't think it does."