North Brookfield lawyer: Group has full permission for drag show on Town Common
NORTH BROOKFIELD — The Rural Justice Network can move forward with its Small Town Pride event, drag performance and all, with authorization from the town, an attorney for the town wrote in a letter to the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts on Friday.
“I trust my statements above will enable RJN to feel confident that it may proceed with planning for the June 24 event and that there is no need for further insinuations of litigation regarding this matter,” attorney Brian W. Riley wrote. “I assure you that I have impressed on the Board members that it is in everyone’s best interest to leave the March 28 authorization in place, and that is the status.”
On Tuesday, the town’s Select Board voted to rescind a previous vote approving of "Small Town Pride" on the Town Common only if it did not include a drag show.
The second vote, which would have restored a March vote that approved a permit for the event in full, failed after two members, Chairman Jason M. Petraitis and Vice Chairman John Tripp, abstained.
Petraitis and Tripp had previously objected to allowing drag performances on the Town Common, due to viewing it as "adult entertainment."
The ACLU got involved, saying the Select Board's stance against including a drag show restricted the organizers' free speech rights.
After the board’s two votes on Tuesday led to more confusion, the ACLU sought clarity on the situation, which it received in the form of Riley's letter.
“This is welcome news for everyone in North Brookfield who will enjoy this joyous celebration of inclusivity,” Ruth Bourquin, senior and managing attorney at the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a news release Friday. “We hope that all Massachusetts communities take note: discrimination against those who choose to express themselves through drag is inconsistent with our state and federal constitutions. Such freedom of expression makes our culture and communities stronger.”
On Tuesday, Petraitis said the Rural Justice Network could hold its event, including the drag show, on the Town Common, since it is a public space and no approval is needed, but that the event would not be “sanctioned” by the board with a permit.
Riley’s letter clarified that the “result of the April 25 meeting is that the vote taken on March 28 has not been rescinded or otherwise altered,” meaning that the approvals the group received on March 28 continue to stand.
Further, the letter said, the March 28 approval was contingent on the Rural Justice Network providing a certificate of insurance and a police detail for the event.
In the ACLU news release, the Rural Justice Network said:
“The Rural Justice Network has worked hard to make Small Town Pride 2023 an enjoyable experience for North Brookfield, and are ecstatic to hear that we can continue with our plan to give this community the event they deserve. The support we’ve received recently has not gone unnoticed, and we are thankful to have the confidence that we are making a difference in all the best ways.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: North Brookfield drag show can go forward after confusing vote
