Court Upholds LGBTQ+ Drag Show Rights on Campus | JQJO

A federal appeals court ruled that West Texas A&M University cannot ban a student LGBTQ+ organization, Spectrum WT, from hosting drag shows. The 2-1 decision overturned a lower court ruling, finding the university's ban violated the group's First Amendment rights. The university president argued the shows lacked dignity and were comparable to blackface, while the court deemed the performances protected expression. The case highlights the ongoing debate surrounding drag performances and LGBTQ+ rights on college campuses.