Naples Pride Faces Setback in Legal Battle

A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit has upheld the city of Naples, Florida’s restrictions on a drag show planned for this weekend’s Pride Fest. The decision, handed down on June 6th, reverses a lower court’s injunction and allows the city to enforce its requirements.

The key restrictions mandate that the performance be held indoors and limit attendance to adults only. This comes after the appeals court found that Naples Pride, the event organizer, waited too long to challenge the conditions, having accepted similar terms in both 2023 and 2024.

The court’s majority opinion emphasized that the city’s decision wasn’t based on suppressing the group’s viewpoint, but rather on concerns for public safety. The judges also highlighted the nature of the performance venue—a city park—classifying it as a “limited public forum.” This designation grants the city greater leeway in regulating speech within that space.

This ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding the regulation of drag performances and the balancing of First Amendment rights with public safety concerns. The impact on future Pride events and similar performances in Florida remains to be seen.