Long Beach : Insurance Dispute Escalates

With the City Council voting 5-3 against reducing liability insurance requirements for a gay pride festival, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer said he will ask for an injunction this week to forbid the city from requiring $1 million in insurance and charging the group $28,000 for police protection and other city services. William E. Weinberger, a volunteer ACLU lawyer, said the suit is “basically a free speech and free assembly issue.”

Judith Doyle, president of Long Beach Lesbian and Gay Pride Inc., said the organization has received one bid for insurance that would carry a $32,500 premium for the May 17 and 18 festival at Shoreline Aquatic Park. She said the group does not have that much money.

Meanwhile, leaders of the lesbian and gay pride organization said that one of its members was shot at after an emotional meeting on the issue last week. They said the man, whom they asked not be identified because of concerns for his safety, had to give his name and address before addressing the City Council. After leaving the meeting, a shot was fired through his windshield as he got out of his car at his home. David Dusenbury, commander of the criminal investigations division of the Long Beach Police Department, said the incident is being investigated.