A Pride event featuring drag queens in Naples, Florida, will take place at a public park near a children’s playground, as originally scheduled, despite pushback from the city.
A federal judge ruled Monday that the city’s move to relocate the Naples Pride event indoors was likely unconstitutional.
Naples Pride sued the city of Naples after city officials told the organization it would have to hold its drag show indoors and restrict the age of people who attend.
Judge John Steele, a Clinton appointee, said Monday that went too far, and the June 7 event can take place at Cambier Park, located in downtown Naples near a large children’s play area.
“For purposes of this preliminary injunction motion, the Court finds that Naples Pride’s drag performance is symbolic conduct that is inherently expressive and constitutes ’speech’ within the meaning of the First Amendment,” the judge wrote.
A city attorney for Naples said the city is still deciding whether to appeal.
“The city is currently reviewing the order and preliminary injunction issued today and evaluating its options to determine its next steps,” attorney Matthew McConnell said.
The LGBTQ advocacy group had argued that trying to force it indoors ran afoul of the First Amendment.
Naples moved the drag show indoors — away from children — the past two years, when cities across the country grappled with how to handle a push from LGBTQ advocates to hold drag shows with children at parks and public libraries.
According to the Naples Pride complaint, the group held its shows outdoors since 2017 but was forced to hold them indoors in 2023 and 2024.
Ticket sales and fundraising then dropped, the group said.
