Troy, Tenn., has canceled its annual Christmas parade after backlash over a planned “Love Everybody” float including a rainbow flag, according to the Tennessean.

Dwight Tittle, a native of the small town in the northwest part of the state, said the proposed float was based on the Bible verse 1 John 4:7-8 and was meant to express solidarity and love for people who felt shunned or judged, including for being LGBTQ.

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"All that says is we're just to love everybody," Tittle told the Tennessean. "You don't have to agree with them, you don't have to accept their lifestyle, but you can still love them. That's what we're about."

Tittle said the inclusion of the rainbow flag led many town residents to conclude the float was specifically LGBTQ pride-themed, and some suggested pelting its occupants with jawbreakers or tomatoes as a result.

Troy announced Monday that the parade had been canceled, citing “continued scheduling conflicts,” although many commenters accused the city of canceling because of the controversy surrounding the float.

Mayor Deanna Chappell said a number of volunteers the parade normally relies on will not be available Dec. 14, the scheduled date of the parade, according to the publication.

"Since we made our statement about the cancellation of the Christmas Parade, we have had a lot of interest from citizens wanting to find solutions for our parade issues," Chappell told the Jackson Sun on Tuesday. "Several of the ideas brought to light are showing promise, and we are actively working to come up with a plan to make a parade happen."

She added that if the town was able to put on the parade, any float within "reasonable taste" would be permitted.

Tittle, whose son is openly gay, said his office had received some hateful late-night phone messages but said that he aimed to proceed with his plans if the parade could be rescheduled.

"If the crowd responds, we're going to turn the Mariah Carey up loud and we'll just keep right on going," he said.