The Supreme Court recently denied a university student group’s emergency petition to allow a charity drag show to take place on the West Texas A&M University campus in Canyon later this month. The group, Spectrum WT, which consists of LGBTQIA+ students and allies, filed a lawsuit last year alleging that the school was violating their free speech rights.
Despite the denial of the emergency injunction, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit free speech advocacy group representing the students, expressed disappointment but vowed to continue fighting for their First Amendment rights. The students held last year’s show off-campus but are continuing the litigation to prevent the school from barring future shows.
The school’s president, Walter Wendler, has been vocal in his opposition to drag shows, calling them “misogynistic” and claiming they do not preserve human dignity. In response, Spectrum WT argued that drag shows are protected expressive conduct under the First Amendment, regardless of personal opinions.
While a U.S. district court judge previously denied the group’s request for a preliminary injunction, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments on the case in late April. The ongoing legal battle highlights the clash between free speech rights and differing views on the appropriateness of drag shows on campus.
The controversy surrounding the charity drag show at West Texas A&M University continues to spark debate and legal action as students and school officials navigate the complex intersection of free speech and personal beliefs.
