A U.S. federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit Naples Pride filed against the city of Naples and the Naples Police Department.
The judge decided Naples Pride could hold its drag show outside at Pridefest in June.
Naples Pride sued after the city issued the drag show permit to be indoors at Cambier Park, arguing the city violated its First Amendment free speech rights.
The City Council also doubled the cost of its safety permit.
Naples Pride argued that the city has no "criteria for assessing security needs or calculating security costs" and that the police chief chose a security fee that he saw fit.
Pridefest is Naples Pride's largest fundraiser each year to provide services to the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year.
Judge John Steele ruled that the "family friendly" drag show is expressive conduct that is considered free speech, the First Amendment applies to a local government, and that the permit's indoor location with age restrictions also violates the First Amendment. Steele also found that Naples Pride established that it would suffer irreparable harm if it did not get a preliminary injunction.
This ruling is for 2025, and the injunction is only good until June 8. The Naples Pride event is scheduled for June 7.
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