Franklin Pride Festival Secures Permit Amid Controversy

City leaders in Franklin, Tennessee, narrowly approved a permit for the municipality's LGBTQ Pride festival this year, countering fierce opposition for what has typically been a procedural formality. The resistance to grant a permit for this year's Pride festival in Franklin, a city of roughly 85,000 people, echoes a nationwide backlash against LGBTQ people. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed a first-of-its-kind bill into law last month to restrict certain drag performances, banning the art form in public or at locations where it can be seen by minors.