Residents urge council to block planned Pride events in Claremore park

Dozens of residents used the public-comment period at the Claremore City Council meeting to urge the council to deny permits or otherwise block Pride-related activities in city parks. Speakers repeatedly referenced Claremore municipal code sections and asked the council to amend adult-entertainment provisions to prevent what they described as inappropriate public displays.

The comments focused on two central requests: that the council strengthen or clarify city ordinances to restrict adult-oriented performances and that the city deny or withdraw support for any Pride-in-the-Park events marketed as family-friendly. Amber Ellis, identified in the meeting as a resident, told the council, “I think you need to look under section 133.06…of the city of Claremore's ordinances,” and asked the council to amend the city’s adult-entertainment ordinance to match ordinances in other Oklahoma municipalities.

Why it matters: multiple speakers said they believed events marketed as family friendly could expose children to sexualized performances. Beverly Jennings presented a statement she said bore 47 Rogers County GOP signatures opposing a bridal/bridal-style festival she linked to Pride activities and asked that the statement be entered into the meeting minutes. Several speakers named national or out-of-town events and materials they said showed explicit merchandise or performances.

Council process and limits: City staff and the city attorney reminded the audience that council members may listen but generally cannot respond during public comment because of open-meeting rules. The speakers’ requests ranged from asking the council to change ordinances to recommending refunding any fees already collected for proposed events.

Public comment highlights: Hylka Buckinger said “that kind of activities will not be allowed here,” arguing they “will not contribute to build up the society, but rather to confuse people.” Amber Ellis urged the council to adopt language used in other municipalities to confine adult entertainment to adult venues. Beverly Jennings said the Rogers County GOP had submitted a signed statement opposing the event and described merchandise and games she viewed as targeting children. Other speakers, including Carrie Rochelle, Michelle DeBoer, Sean Prosser, Kelly Caldwell and Dr. Barbara Grispe, offered variations on the same theme: oppose Pride events in public parks and protect children from what they characterized as sexualized programming.

What the council did: The remarks occurred during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no city action on permits or ordinances related to Pride events was taken during that section. Several speakers explicitly asked the council to draft or amend ordinances; the transcript records no motion or vote in response to those specific public requests during the meeting.

Next steps and context: Speakers said a local group had formed a Claremore Pride presence online and that organizers planned events in 2025; the council did not vote on event permits at this meeting. Several speakers cited specific municipal code sections and asked staff and councilors to review or amend ordinance language. The city attorney and clerk reiterated timing and decorum rules for public comment, and staff noted that formal code changes would require ordinance drafting and later council action.