St. George Settles with Drag Stars, Apologizes for First Amendment Violation

The City of St. George has reached a settlement with Southern Utah Drag Stars (SUDS), resolving a discrimination lawsuit that had been ongoing for more than a year. The agreement, finalized on Friday, Feb. 7, includes a formal apology from city officials.

The lawsuit, originally filed in May 2023, stemmed from an incident where SUDS CEO Mitski Avalōx was denied a special event permit for a family-friendly drag performance. The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah (ACLU), which backed the lawsuit, argued that the permit denial violated First and Fourteenth Amendment rights and was part of a broader pattern of discrimination against drag and LGBTQ+ events.

As part of the settlement, St. George acknowledged that it had violated SUDS’ First Amendment rights and publicly expressed regret over its actions. In exchange, the ACLU agreed to drop the lawsuit.

Shortly after the agreement was finalized, St. George issued a statement recognizing its mistake and committing to respecting free speech rights moving forward. The city affirmed that it “welcomes all citizens to hold special events in the future” and strives to uphold constitutional protections for all members of the community.

Calling the outcome a “historic settlement,” the ACLU emphasized the broader significance of the case.

“Amid growing efforts to suppress LGBTQ+ rights across the country, this resolution underscores the importance of First Amendment protections,” said ACLU senior staff attorney Emerson Sykes. “Drag is a powerful form of artistic and political expression, and we are thrilled that our clients’ rights have been upheld.”

With the case now closed, both parties expressed hope that future event applications would be treated fairly and in accordance with constitutional protections.

Author
Recent Posts

keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply