TALLAHASSEE — Disagreeing with First Amendment arguments, a federal appeals court Friday cleared the way for the city of Naples to place restrictions on a drag show that is part of an LGBTQ “Pridefest” this weekend.
A panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 decision, approved a city request for a stay of a preliminary injunction that U.S. District Judge John Steele issued last month to block the restrictions.
While the stay doesn’t resolve the underlying issues in the case, it means the preliminary injunction is not in effect.
The group Naples Pride filed the lawsuit to challenge restrictions such as a requirement that the drag show be held inside a building with a 200-person capacity and that minors be barred from attending. Naples Pride sought a permit to hold the sh