COMMUNITY
impression. Theatre is like the ultimate ‘we-love-everybody-who-wants-to-be-involved' enterprise - we're always putting something together that's greater than the sum of any individual parts, something none of us could ever pull off alone or in isolation.”
Smith then said the SCT welcomes everybody and believes that its best moments of creativity and best work as artists comes from an openness and desire to collaborate.
“A significant part of our success - we're 40 years strong - is due to local LGBT performers, volunteers, patrons, supporters, and friends, from the beginning to today,” Smith said. “Long before the board's vote this week, we had scheduled to perform ‘The Laramie Project,' which now suddenly feels more relevant than ever, to this community at this moment in time. So it feels very easy and natural to me to vocally support our LGBT community in Starkville and beyond.”
Rosa Dalomba, owner of The Pop Porium on the city's Main Street, has been an outspoken critic of the decision by the Board of Aldermen and plans to host a gay pride celebration in her store regardless of if a parade is held or not.
“As a business owner, my issue if I take the emotions out of it, I have a big issue with it, because that is hindering our economic development,” Dalomba said. “It is not good for us, because you're telling me on the 24th I could have had hundreds of people downtown who eat, who spend money, who shop. Instead, it's just going to be an everyday Saturday in Starkville.”
Dalomba said she believes this decision will put Starkville on the wrong side of history.
“It's not just that its a party and a good time, it's about the proof that we are inclusive as a whole and everyone is welcome here in Starkville,” Dalomba said.
Dalomba said MSU students are a vibrant part of Starkville's community and economy, and pushing for the pride parade to take place on campus is telling them that they are not welcome in the community.
“When it comes to them spending money here, every business here has to actively get the student to spend their money down here,” Dalomba said. “We can't have it both ways. It should be inclusive to all, and we should show them that their dollars are as appreciated as anyone else.”
In turn, Mississippi State spokesman Sid Salter told the Starkville Daily News on Thursday that the university has not taken a position on the issue.
Salter also said the university has not received any formal requests regarding Starkville Pride. However, the university plans to evaluate any requests with the same criteria as all organization requests.
While many in the community have voiced their support for the issue, others have taken to social media to support the aldermen who voted in opposition of the measure.
Former Ward 2 Alderman Lisa Wynn, who recently made a failed bid for the Mississippi House of Representatives and currently works as chief administrative officer for Moore & Moore Construction Co., has been a vocal a opponent of the gay pride parade on social media.
While it is unconfirmed, Wynn claims she informed the four aldermen of the “language” of the measure and said she warned of what would happen under “LESBIAN leadership.”
She also thanked Republicans Carver and Little, along with Perkins and Vaughn, who are both Democrats.
WTVA - the news partner of the Starkville Daily News - requested via Twitter for Wynn to respond to requests for a comment, to which she replied: “Warning comes before destruction...her next move is through annexation (if adopted) that is designed to silence Black Americans and Repubicans (sic).”
The latter comment referred to Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill, who was also targeted by Wynn in a profane tweet prior to her response to the television station.
Despite the decision being met with both public outcry and support, Starkville Pride on Wednesday night confirmed it is in the process of filing a lawsuit against the city of Starkville.
The group has said its rights to free speech and equal protection under the law were violated by the city's decision to not issue the permit.
Organizers for the group said they would begin preparations for the lawsuit on Thursday.