Kristina Heuser, senior litigation counsel with Liberty Counsel, says Naples, Florida has allowed Naples Pride to hold a pride fest every year for the last several years. But this year, the city wanted to restrict the drag show component to adults only.
The LGBTQ advocacy group and the American Civil Liberties Union sued the city, claiming that making it a ticketed event and moving it indoors violated their First Amendment rights. They sought a preliminary injunction from the federal district court.
"Unfortunately, [U.S. District Judge John Steele] … granted the injunction, and he's going to allow Naples Pride to have its drag show outside," Heuser details.
The issue is Cambier Park, a big and busy children's playground, is about 100 feet away from where the drag show is to take place.
With the "Protection of Children Act" of 2023 in mind, which expressly outlaws public drag shows from being held in view of minors, the city is appealing the decision.
"The First Amendment does not protect an obscene drag performance in full view of a children's playground, and Florida law outright bans it," Liberty Counsel Mat Staver points out.
The drag show is scheduled for June 7.
