Mobile’s third annual LGBTQ Pride-themed ArtWalk is expected to draw about 20,000 people on Friday despite criticism from religious activists and Baptist ministers over a drag queen show occurring at a city-owned park.

The critics showed up Tuesday during the weekly Mobile City Council meeting, and expressed their concerns over what they said was the city promoting “the LGBTQ agenda.” They also called on city officials to adopt an ordinance or take some sort of action curtailing the drag queen show scheduled for 8 p.m. at Cathedral Square.

The complaints about the event came a few days after a federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump struck down a new Tennessee state law limiting public drag show performances. A similar bill introduced in Alabama did not advance this legislative session.

“This event is out of step with the mission of the (City of Mobile’s) Parks and Recreation Department which is to bring people together in fun and inclusive ways,” said Sam Sinclair, pastor of Cloverleaf Baptist Church in west Mobile. “Every Parks and Rec event I’ve been to has been family friendly and inclusive for all who participate. This event is not. We do believe the city should not be sponsoring nor promoting this event in any way.”

Five people spoke out against this month’s ArtWalk, but no actions were taken. The only council member to speak publicly about the event was Councilman Ben Reynolds, who urged the city’s public safety department to “pay very close attention” on Friday to ensure no one was violating a city ordinance prohibiting lewd or obscene acts.

Lawrence Battiste, the city’s executive director of public safety, told AL.com that provocative dress sometimes worn during drag shows is not considered a legal violation. He likened the drag queen show to Halloween, where people dress into costumes for entertainment.

“These are costumes for the most part when you are talking about drag shows,” Battiste said. “We are not looking to stretch the imagination or be heavy handed in addressing an issue that gives people freedom of expression.”

After the meeting, city officials defended the event and said they opposed excluding any organization from using a city park.

“Everyone in this city has a right to the city parks and city areas and places,” said Councilman William Carroll, who represents City Council District No. 2, which includes the downtown area where Art Walk takes place each month. “I represent everybody in District 2, including people with alternative lifestyles and alternative styles of dress. Everyone is inclusive in a way that we represent the city of Mobile. I’ll continue to do that and not exclude anyone especially from the uses of our amenities. It’s just not the proper thing to do.”

David Clark, president & CEO with Visit Mobile, said the LGBTQ community “contributes a lot to our community” and that Mobile as a destination for travel aims to “promote a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment.”

“Inclusive means everyone and it includes the LGBTQ community,” Clark said. “We will promote everybody. I think if you exclude anyone, you are not inclusive. That’s our position and we’ll continue to promote Mobile and continue to promote Pride.”

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s office has defended the ArtWalk event in recent weeks. The Parks and Recreation Department sponsors Art Walk with other partners including the Mobile Arts Council and the Downtown Mobile Alliance.

Each month, the city’s staff sets a theme for ArtWalk, but individual activities are organized and sponsored by third party groups. In November, for example, ArtWalk’s theme is Native American Heritage month, and one feature includes a showcase by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Last October, the event’s theme was Hispanic Heritage Month, and it was funded and organized by the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast.

Rainbow Pride of Mobile is one of the main sponsors of June’s event.

“The City of Mobile provides support for public safety and trash pickup for every monthly Art Walk, as well as dozens of other downtown events each year,” said city spokesman Jason Johnson . “The city is not providing funds for any particular program or organization at Friday’s Art Walk.”

Chance Shaw, president of Rainbow Pride of Mobile, said comments expressed during the council meeting were “patently false” and he encouraged anyone who was “curious about what his going to happen on Pride ArtWalk” or during the drag queen show to come to downtown Mobile on Friday.

“The lack of understanding, it goes back to a quote I love by Tennessee Williams that says, ‘Hate can only exist when there is no understanding,’” Shaw said. “That definitely sums up this well.”

The backlash at Mobile’s council meeting follows criticism directed at some city officials elsewhere in Alabama where the annual LGBTQ Pride events are taking place this month.

In Fairhope last month, residents showed up to a council meeting and blasted elected officials for not preventing Pride-theme events from occurring. A protest event with about 40 attendees occurred on Saturday next to the Color Fairhope with Pride celebration.

Seth McCollough, president of Pride on the Plains, said their organization’s annual PrideFest often draws criticism from the community but that “for the most part, people in Lee County are very supportive of our mission.”

The rise of protesting to LGBTQ Pride month activities coincides with the timing of anti-LGBTQ laws passed this year by state lawmakers in mostly Republican-led states.

Alabama State Rep. Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, pitched legislation this spring that would add a provision to the state’s anti-obscenity laws to prohibit “male or female impersonators” – commonly known as drag queens or kings – from performing in K-12 public schools, public libraries, and in other public places where minors are present. That bill did not advance this session, which is ending Tuesday.

Shaw said since at least 2016, there has not been the public outcry toward LGBTQ Pride events than there has been this year.

“It goes hand-in-hand with the rise of anti-LGBTQ bills we’ve been seeing in state Legislatures especially like we’ve seen in the South,” Shaw said. “Thankfully, the ones before our state Legislature did not go anywhere. We are seeing some of them like the drag queen ban in Tennessee be ruled unconstitutional. That ban infringes on people’s First Amendment speech.”