Is Dallas Pride Instituting a Dress Code?

Some folks in Dallas are upset that reminders went out warning about nudity and indecency at this weekend's Dallas Pride event.

Michael Doughman, executive director of the Dallas Tavern Guild, which organizes the Pride event, told the Dallas Voice the controversy is "much ado about nothing." Such standards about lewdness have been in place for years and a reminder in August about indecency came from law enforcement, not the Tavern Guild. An example of behavior that crosses the line is when a dancer on a float has a visible erection, which was the case during a recent Pride event (the dancer's underwear was wet, so it made everything that much more visible).

Local activist Daniel Cates stirred up emotions when he wrote on Facebook that the Tavern Guild were stifling sexual freedom. “The ‘queer’ is effectively being erased from our Pride celebration in favor of the most polished, heteronormative representation of our community as possible,” Cates wrote. “It should be noted that the rioters at the Stonewall Inn fought to break OUT of the damn closet! Our movement was built of sex positivity and our desire to BE WHO WE ARE! I urge you ALL to openly DEFY the Tavern Guild!”

Some organizations sponsoring floats are being encouraged to have their dancers wear swimsuits instead of underwear. Meanwhile, a police sergeant told the Voice he hopes he doesn't have to take action, but some people have been pushing the lines of decency for the last few years. Read more here.