George, Utah, a conservative city 111 miles (179 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The lawsuit marked the most recent development in a fight over drag shows in St. “We have read Judge Nuffer’s opinion and while we are disappointed in the result, we are currently evaluating our options in light of the ruling.” “Our intent is always to follow the law both when we enact laws and when we enforce laws, and we will continue to do so,” the statement said. George said it is committed to ensuring public parks and facilities remain viable and open to residents and those who want to hold special events. The city now may not enforce any new advertising prohibitions against the group or its show, Nuffer ruled, ordering that the performance must “take scheduling precedence over any other event.” “They do not merely serve the citizens who elect them, the majority of citizens in the community, or a vocal minority in the community.” “Public officials take an oath to ‘support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Utah,’” Nuffer wrote. The permit denial based on that ordinance, Nuffer wrote in his ruling, was a pretext for discrimination. The city council later denied the permit, citing a never-previously-enforced ordinance that forbids advertising before permit approval. George to reverse its decision and authorize a drag show at the end of June.Ī city events coordinator told Drag Stars, Avalōx said, that the group could start advertising for the April show before obtaining a permit. A complaint filed in federal court accused city officials of “flagrant and ongoing violations of their free speech, due process, and equal protection rights,” and asked for St. George in May after the city denied the group permits for an all-ages show it aimed to host in a public park in April. Southern Utah Drag Stars and its CEO, Mitski Avalōx, sued the city of St. “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression.” District Judge David Nuffer wrote in a Friday ruling granting the preliminary injunction requested by the group. Public spaces are not majority spaces,” U.S. George must issue a permit for a Utah-based group that organizes drag performances to host an all-ages drag show in a public park, a federal judge ruled, calling the city’s attempt to stop the show unconstitutional discrimination.
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