Naples Pride Fest sees clashes amidst court-ordered indoor drag show
Just hours before Naples Pride was set to go with an outdoors drag show performance in the city's Cambier Park, a federal court ruled against Pride's plan, forcing it to move the performance indoors.
Pride Fest began about 11 a.m. Saturday.
The first of the drag show performances began just after noon.
The performances are restricted to patrons 18 and older.
Performers walked off stage and made rounds through the audience collecting cash from attendees who rewarded their performances.
'We're inside, this not family-friendly no more,' one of the performers said.
A group of protesters stood outside, shouting references to the Bible and comparing 'homosexuality' with 'sin.'
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta on Friday granted the city of Naples' motion to stay a preliminary injunction that District Judge John Steele granted last month in Fort Myers.
Naples Pride in April filed a federal lawsuit against the city after officials denied a permit to allow it to present the 2025 Pride Fest drag show, one of its main moneymakers, outdoors.
On May 12, in a 49-page order, Steele referred to the city's permitting restrictions as "clearly invalid" under the First Amendment.
In his order, Steele granted the preliminary injunction in part, saying Naples Pride's drag performance is protected speech.
The federal judge also concluded that Cambier Park and its bandshell are both traditional public forums, where freedom of speech is most protected, allowing individuals to express their opinions and ideas without government interference.
Pride Fest went on, but its organizers were not happy with the latest ruling and the restrictions it carries.
The city, as well as several Collier County residents, appealed Steele's decision, but the federal judge ruled against their calls for a reconsideration. The city on May 22 appealed Steele's rulings to the District Court of Appeals.
The appeals court's ruling forced Naples Pride to hold its drag show indoors. They held three drag shows indoors at the Norris Center, 755 8th Ave. S.
Soldavini said organizers did not charge for tickets and added they were donation-based.
In a Wednesday Facebook post, Naples Police asked that everyone in attendance remain civil, cooperative and respectful.
The Naples Police security plan was developed in partnership with the Collier County Sheriff's Office and supported by Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the department said in a news release.
Several road closures implemented by police began at 1 a.m. Friday. Police anticipated they would extend through approximately 6 p.m. Saturday — about two hours after Pride Fest concludes.
Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran, Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews and Bluesky @tomasfrodriguez.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Pride Fest: clashes erupt as drag show moves indoors.
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