Utah city found guilty of First Amendment violation for canceling public drag show.

A Victory for Drag Performers: Utah City Ordered to Grant Permit for Public Park Show

A United States District judge has made a groundbreaking ruling, ordering the city of St. George in Utah to grant a permit for a drag show.”>highly anticipated drag show set to take place in a public park. This decision comes after the Southern Utah Drag Stars filed a lawsuit against the city, following the cancellation of their April show due to the venue withdrawing its support.

This ruling not only paves the way for the rescheduled performance in June but also eliminates any city-imposed restrictions on advertising. Judge David Nuffer, in his ruling, emphasized the importance of public spaces as platforms for free expression, stating, “Public spaces are public spaces… not private spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, regardless of popularity or conformity, have the right to access public spaces for public expression.”

The city of St. George had initially denied the permit for the drag show, citing the performers’ early advertising as a violation of an ordinance that had never been enforced before. However, Judge Nuffer saw this as a mere pretext for discrimination and ruled in favor of the drag performers.

While the city of St. George expressed disappointment with the ruling, they affirmed their commitment to upholding the law. They are currently evaluating their options and considering a possible appeal. If an appeal is made, the case will be taken to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado.

Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking legal battle!

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