TL;DR
- St. George, Utah, ordered to pay $350K
- Settlement follows denied drag show permits
- ACLU supported the drag performers
- First Amendment rights upheld
- City’s discrimination against LGBTQ+ highlighted
In a stunning legal victory that has sent shockwaves through the conservative landscape of Utah, a federal judge has ordered the city of St. George to fork over a whopping $350,000 to the Southern Utah Drag Stars. This hefty sum is meant to cover the legal fees incurred during their epic battle for First Amendment rights, a fight that lasted nearly three long years.
The ruling, delivered by District Judge David Nuffer on April 24, 2026, comes after a series of events that began when the Southern Utah Drag Stars, led by their fierce CEO Mitski Avalox, found themselves on the wrong side of city regulations. In 2023, the group was denied permits to host an all-ages drag show in a city-owned park, a move that they argued was a blatant violation of their free speech rights. With the ACLU of Utah backing them up, they took a stand against what they deemed a “flagrant and ongoing violation” of their rights.
“This is the latest offense in a larger pattern of attacks discriminating against gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ people and their rights in Utah and throughout the country,” said Emerson Sykes, an ACLU attorney, making it clear that this wasn’t just about one show—it was about the broader fight for equality.
Despite the city’s claims that their denial was merely a neutral enforcement of regulations, the drag performers argued that the rules were enforced inconsistently and with a discriminatory flair. After much back-and-forth, the show finally took place at the Dixie Sunbowl on June 30, 2023, but not without a significant amount of drama.
Fast forward to 2025, when a settlement was reached. The city and the Southern Utah Drag Stars negotiated a resolution that included a public apology and, of course, monetary compensation. However, the city tried to wiggle out of paying the drag group’s legal fees, despite the settlement agreement clearly stating otherwise. But the judge wasn’t having it. Last week’s ruling confirmed that the Southern Utah Drag Stars were indeed the prevailing party, and the city must pay up.
This case is more than just a legal win for the drag queens; it’s a powerful statement against the ongoing discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ individuals across the nation. As drag shows become flashpoints in the culture wars, this ruling serves as a reminder that the fight for equality and acceptance is far from over. So, here’s to the Southern Utah Drag Stars—may their heels be high and their spirits even higher!