Montana Pride derailed by anti-drag bill, lawsuit says

Mara Silvers

Montana Free Press

LGBTQ+ advocates, nonprofits and businesses are suing the city of Helena for allegedly withholding permits for upcoming Pride events in light of the 2023 state law banning drag performances and story hours in public places.

The new accusations from the Helena-based Montana Pride organizers are part of a lawsuit originally filed in early July in federal court. The plaintiffs in that case, including a transgender author, a public school teacher, local arts organizations, nonprofits, a brewery and a bookstore, argue that the Republican-sponsored House Bill 359 is a...