More than 4,000 people showed up to Pridefest in Naples this year, but only about 600 of them were able to attend the drag performances the festival is known for.
That’s due to a decision from a federal court that forced the annual drag show inside the Norris Center downtown, away from the main stage of Cambier Park.
The day before the show was set to start, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta reversed an injunction from a lower court that allowed Pridefest’s drag performance to be held outside.
Drag queen and festival performer Alyssa LeMay says that despite the challenges, organizers were able to pull together a successful show.
"It's been stressful for the fact that they waited till the 11th hour to tell us that we did have to move inside. But we have done it before, inside, so we knew the game plan. It'd be fun to be out with everybody, because we know it's like, a spectacular year this year, and it's a beautiful day, but yeah, sometimes you got to roll with the punches.”
“When there's this much ugly on the outside, it makes me want to come in more with the not ugly. We just try to show up and spread love, and that's all we do. We're just here to be loving.”Wendy Rainey, Charlotte County resident and volunteers with Free Mom Hugs
Wendy Rainey is a Charlotte County resident who volunteers with the organization Free Mom Hugs, which offers support to LGBTQ+ people who face rejection from their families. She said that the controversy surrounding this year’s Pride only made her more determined to attend the event.
“When there's this much ugly on the outside, it makes me want to come in more with the not ugly. We just try to show up and spread love, and that's all we do. We're just here to be loving.”
Not everyone at the festival was upset about the drag show being moved indoors.
Citing his religious beliefs, a protester named Dan said that he didn’t believe drag was appropriate for children to see:
“I think it’s a great thing to have it inside. If people wanna do these things, in our nation, you know we do have rights of assembly and various things. I don't think it's good for children, to show indecent acts and these various things that they do."
Naples Police estimate about 250 protesters were present throughout the day. In a press release, the agency said that one protester — whom they accused of violating state and local law related to resisting an officer without violence — was detained, but no other incidents occurred.
While the event has now concluded, Naples Pride and their legal team say they will continue to fight for next year’s Pride.
Daniel Tilley is the legal director of the ACLU of Florida, and an attorney on Naples Pride’s suit against the city.
“We're proud to be who we are, and we want to be seen, and we want to for others to know that we are celebrating with our community," he said. "Literally putting us hidden away, tucked away, so that people can't see us, is the embodiment of what we're here to fight against. We're going to move to the end of the case as fast as we can, so that by this time next year, we're here celebrating with a drag show that's outside.”
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