WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Friday rejected an application by an LGBTQ student group that wanted to hold a “PG-13” drag show on the campus of West Texas A&M University, over the objections of administrators.
The court's decision, in a short unsigned order, means the group Spectrum WT will likely not be able to hold an event at its on-campus facility on March 22nd.
No negative votes were allowed, and the court did not explain its decision.
University President Walter Wendler blocked a similar event last year, calling drag shows “derisive, divisive and demoralizing.”
West Texas A&M is a state university located in the state's Panhandle region. Wendler said he wants the university to reflect the region's conservative Christian values.
LGBTQ organizations point to university policies that prohibit administrators from denying access to facilities based on political, religious or ideological views, and deny members' First Amendment freedom of speech. claims that their rights have been violated.
According to the plaintiffs, the facility in question, Legacy Hall, is a performance space that has been used for drag shows, beauty pageants and concerts.
The controversy arose last year when Spectrum WT's plans to host a similar event were blocked. Organizers said the plan was to show support for the LGBTQ community with an event that did not include obscenity or profanity. The performance is said to be aimed at an audience at least 13 years old.
Wendler then sent a message to the university saying he would not hold a drag show because it stereotyped women. He added that there is no such thing as a “harmless drag show.”
Spectrum WT filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction and, unable to obtain one, moved the event off campus. The group is represented by the Individual Rights and Expression Foundation, which supports free expression on college campuses.
Spectrum WT then renewed its request for an injunction as attention focused on this year's event. In its defense, the university argued that the drag show was not an act of expression, meaning it did not violate free speech rights.
In September, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kaksmarik denied the injunction. The plaintiffs have appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, based in New Orleans, but the court has not yet taken action.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is representing university officials, said in court documents that the university already has a policy prohibiting “disruptive, obscene, or vulgar” conduct, and that the drag show was “A violation can occur by glorifying behavior that makes many people feel humiliated and degrading,” he said. objectified. ”
Paxton also said the plaintiffs waited too long to seek Supreme Court intervention.