A Win for Southern Utah Drag Stars in Court; Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction for Event Permit
News
June 21, 2023
On June 16, the United States District Court for the District of Utah granted Southern Utah Drag Stars (Drag Stars) a preliminary injunction, allowing them to host their family-friendly drag performance in a public venue. In late May, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah Foundation, Inc., (ACLU of Utah), Jenner & Block filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mitski Avalōx and Drag Stars against the City of St. George for denying them a special event permit for their drag show, which was originally scheduled for April 28.
In the ruling, the court found that by denying Drag Stars a permit to host their drag event, the City of St. George likely violated their First Amendment rights.
“Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression,” District Judge David Nuffer wrote in the order granting the preliminary injunction.
“We are very pleased that the court has decided to order the City of St. George to grant Southern Utah Drag Stars a special events permit to host their family-friendly drag show, and we will continue to fight to protect the fundamental First and Fourteenth Amendment rights that drag performers are entitled to,” said Partner Rémi Jaffré.
The Jenner & Block team is led by Rémi and Partner Jeremy Creelan, with assistance from Special Counsel Nathan Castellano, Associates Owen Keiter, Meredith Hurley, and Jocelyn Sitton, Law Clerk Sarah Purtill, and Paralegals Cheryl Olson and Grace Liberman.
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© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
News
June 21, 2023
On June 16, the United States District Court for the District of Utah granted Southern Utah Drag Stars (Drag Stars) a preliminary injunction, allowing them to host their family-friendly drag performance in a public venue. In late May, in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Civil Liberties Union of Utah Foundation, Inc., (ACLU of Utah), Jenner & Block filed a lawsuit on behalf of Mitski Avalōx and Drag Stars against the City of St. George for denying them a special event permit for their drag show, which was originally scheduled for April 28.
In the ruling, the court found that by denying Drag Stars a permit to host their drag event, the City of St. George likely violated their First Amendment rights.
“Public spaces are public spaces. Public spaces are not private spaces. Public spaces are not majority spaces. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution ensures that all citizens, popular or not, majority or minority, conventional or unconventional, have access to public spaces for public expression,” District Judge David Nuffer wrote in the order granting the preliminary injunction.
“We are very pleased that the court has decided to order the City of St. George to grant Southern Utah Drag Stars a special events permit to host their family-friendly drag show, and we will continue to fight to protect the fundamental First and Fourteenth Amendment rights that drag performers are entitled to,” said Partner Rémi Jaffré.
The Jenner & Block team is led by Rémi and Partner Jeremy Creelan, with assistance from Special Counsel Nathan Castellano, Associates Owen Keiter, Meredith Hurley, and Jocelyn Sitton, Law Clerk Sarah Purtill, and Paralegals Cheryl Olson and Grace Liberman.
Related Locations
© 2026 Jenner & Block LLP. Attorney Advertising. Jenner & Block LLP is an Illinois Limited Liability Partnership including professional corporations. This publication, presentation, or event is not intended to provide legal advice but to provide information on legal matters and/or firm news of interest to our clients and colleagues. Readers or attendees should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to matters mentioned in this publication or at this event. The attorney responsible for this communication is Brent E. Kidwell, Jenner & Block LLP, 353 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654-3456. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Jenner & Block London LLP, an affiliate of Jenner & Block LLP, is a limited liability partnership established under the laws of the State of Delaware, USA and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority with SRA number 615729. Information regarding the data we collect and the rights you have over your data can be found in our Privacy Notice. For further inquiries, please contact dataprotection@jenner.com.
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