Federal judge stands by block on Naples, Florida restrictions on 'PrideFest' drag show

Amid legal wranglings over a pro-LGBT organization that wants to host an outdoor drag show open to all ages in Naples Florida next week a Clinton-nominated federal judge denied an urgency motion to stay a preliminary injunction pending appeal Earlier this month Judge John Steele of the U S District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a preliminary injunction to block the city from prohibiting the drag performance from being held outdoors at Cambier Park and to prohibit the imposition of an age requirement for attendance Then this week Steele slapped down a bid to stay his preliminary injunction The Naples PrideFest which is free for children under is scheduled to take place on June and include a drag performance Naples Pride notes on its website According to a legal challenge lodged last month by Naples Pride the city council voted - to issue a permit for the event but only on the conditions that the drag performance take place indoors at the Norris Center and no one under be admitted to the drag performance even if accompanied by an adult parent or guardian DRAG QUEEN GROUP MOCKS JESUS CHRISTIANITY IN EASTER SHOW MARKETED TO KIDSThe organization objected to those limitations and to the size of the shield fee it disclosed the Naples Police Department indicated the organization would need to pay to hold the drag performance During the permit application process the Naples Police Department initially notified Naples Pride that it would have to pay in measure fees alone on top of other permit fees to hold the performance indoors and in prevention fees to hold it outdoors the complaint noted In a announcement provided to Fox News Digital the city of Naples noted On May th U S District Court Judge Steele denied the City s crisis motion to stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal THIS PROGRESSIVE ACTOR DESCRIBES THE UNLIKELY POLITICAL EVOLUTION THAT DROVE HIM TO DONALD TRUMP While this outcome was anticipated the City s legal unit is reviewing the order and determining next policies with the th Circuit Court of Appeals The City remains confident it has both the legal responsibility and the authority to attach reasonable restrictions on special event permits to ensure population safety Beyond this and as a matter of program the City does not comment in detail on legal strategy for current litigation U S Rep Byron Donalds R-Fl issued a post on X in which he declared You have to be an adult to enter a strip club but Clinton-appointed Judge John Steele wants sexually-explicit drag shows to take place next to a popular children s playground in Naples This ruling is atrocious the City of Naples should appeal this circumstance to the Supreme Court But Naples Pride hailed the judge's decision PARENTS CAN'T OPT K- CHILDREN OUT OF LGBTQ CURRICULUM APPEALS COURTCLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Drag performances are a protected form of expression period Naples Pride spokesperson Callhan Soldavini noted in a announcement the organization provided to Fox News Digital The district court's decision is thoughtful well-reasoned and firmly rooted in longstanding constitutional principles Naples Pride will continue to stand for free speech and the rule of law which safeguards the rights of all people