Southlake City Council on Tuesday unanimously denied a permit for a Pride festival planned Oct. 3 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church.
The Dallas Morning News reports council members did not discuss the event or question staff or organizers before the vote. A city spokeswoman said she did not know why the permit was denied. Mayor Shawn McCaskill and council members did not respond to requests for comment.
Last October’s Pride Kel-So drew about 1,600 people to the church’s 10 acres on the Southlake-Keller line. Organizers said they expected fewer than 1,000 and did not apply for a permit. City rules require a special-event permit and, for crowds over 1,000, a Specific Use Permit from the council. This year they applied.
Planning and zoning recommended approval 5-1 after organizers agreed to shrink the footprint. The Rev. Alan Bentrup, the church’s rector, said, “We believe God’s love is for everyone.” Festival co-founder April Dreyson said she is reviewing options and still hopes to hold a festival.
FOX 4 reports organizers have put last year’s crowd as high as 2,500 and that Dreyson said she has not received an explanation after last year’s event was allowed to proceed.
Southlake treats large public festivals as a public-safety matter even on church land, covering parking, traffic, fire access and insurance. A regular worship service does not trigger that process.
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