Organisers of the annual Naples Pride celebration in Florida are suing the city’s municipal government after being denied an event permit — a move they argue infringes on their constitutional rights and discriminates against the LGBTQ+ community.
The city cited increased security costs due to expected anti-transgender protests as the reason for denying the permit for this year’s event, scheduled for 7 June. Officials also requested the event prohibit entry to anyone under 18 — a condition that Naples Pride organisers have refused to accept, emphasising that the event remains family-friendly.
According to The Advocate, the city informed organisers they would need to pay $36,000 for security — a significantly higher amount than previous years or comparable local events. Naples based this estimate on the number of anti-transgender speakers who voiced opposition during a two-day city hearing.
A History of Restriction
This isn’t the first time the city has imposed heightened costs on the event. In 2023, the city attempted to charge organisers $44,000 if drag performers were part of the celebration. Although Florida passed a law banning drag shows in public that year, federal courts later overturned it on free speech grounds, with the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear an appeal.
To comply and avoid the fee, Naples Pride held drag performances indoors last year, which limited capacity and ticket sales. Organisers noted this change hurt both community visibility and the event’s fundraising goals.
“Forcing the show indoors — as if it were something shameful — undermined the performance’s intended message of acceptance and living as an LGBTQ+ person openly and without fear,” the lawsuit states.
Legal Challenge
Naples Pride is represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida. Attorney Callie Soldavini stressed that the organisers are not requesting special treatment, only their rights under the Constitution.
“All we’re doing is asking to celebrate our celebration as we have done since 2017 in a manner that we have the constitutional right,” Soldavini said. “We’re only asking for those to be respected and enforced.”
Last year’s event reportedly attracted only a dozen protesters, described as mostly non-violent and peaceful. “They were holding public prayers and quietly protesting,” Soldavini added, questioning the city’s justification for the steep security bill.
The city’s suggestion to restrict access to people under 18 this year has drawn sharp criticism. “We’re committed to making sure the event remains inclusive for families,” Soldavini said.
She also expressed frustration with how Naples officials have treated the event over the years: “A lot of times we feel that City Council and the Naples Police Department are looking at us with annoyance,” adding that the event draws members of registered hate groups and Christian nationalists, not because of its content, but due to growing societal polarisation.
Naples Pride has already raised US$50,000 to fund the event and is preparing to move forward — outdoors and all-ages — as legal proceedings continue.
