Protesters confronted each other and shouted in each others faces Friday morning in downtown Fort Myers, just before a hearing in federal court over a lawsuit that Naples Pride filed against the city of Naples.
Naples Pride said it would ask a federal judge to make a decision today on whether it’s lawsuit can continue. Either way, the organization says it’s Pridefest will happen on June 7th.
About 40 people, including counter-protesters, were there.
The lawsuit alleges unconstitutional restrictions on the annual Pridefest celebration, including requirements that drag performances be held indoors, be barred to minors, and subject to security fees that have increased by more than 2,700% since 2017.
The nonprofit organization filed the complaint on April 10 in federal court, claiming the city’s restrictions violate their First Amendment rights and unfairly target LGBTQ+ expression…