DAVE & DUJANOVIC

Canceling drag show will cost St. George taxpayers $600,000+

Nov 2, 2022, 6:00 PM | Updated: Dec 30, 2022, 11:19 am

St. George City Hall is pictured on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. Photo credit: Ravell Hall/Deseret News...

St. George City Hall is pictured on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020. Photo credit: Ravell Hall/Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Taxpayers in St. George will be paying the city manager more than $600,000 to leave his job and not sue the city for breach of contract after he approved a HBO drag-show performance in the Town Square during the summer.

In early October, Mayor Michele Randall and the City Council announced City Manager Adam Lenhard would leave the city “to pursue other opportunities,” according to a statement provided to KSL.com.

No to drag show in St. George

The City Council opposed hosting the drag show because of its mature content and asked Lenhard to void the show’s permit.

Councilwoman Michelle Tanner compared the drag show to a “strip show” or nudist club in text messages, according to KSL.com.

“Overwhelmingly” people in the community “would agree that a drag show would be offensive and lack scientific values,” Tanner wrote, adding “sexuality” would be the “whole theme” of the show in a text exchange between Tanner and Lenhard.

“Unless the production violates a law, I think their right to use the park is protected under the First Amendment. A private property owner could exclude anyone for any reason, but the government can’t restrict their speech or expression on public property,” Lenhard texted, adding that he was told none of the drag show participants would be “nude or indecent.”

The show was part of HBO’s “We’re Here” drag show tour, which visits smaller US cities and towns, particularly in the South and Southwest.

Drag show and the law

KSL legal analyst Greg Skordas joins KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic with Dave Noriega and Debbie Dujanovic to provide insight into the dispute in St. George.

“In your view is this drag show free speech and the city manager was right?” Debbie asked.

“Yeah, Debbie, I really think it is,” Skordas replied.

He added if an event protected by the First Amendment, such as the Ku Klux Klan marching in a town or city, is likely to incite violence, then the city can take action to prevent that from occurring.

“But in this case, they [city leaders] really didn’t have anything that would make this seem or appear to be illegal or inappropriate,” Skordas said. “I mean, maybe it’s not the most family-friendly thing, and I can understand people being concerned about that. So keep the family away. And I think that’s what the First Amendment would allow in a case like this.”

Skordas added all parties in this dispute should have consulted better with one another before the decision was made to approve the drag show.

Related:

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.  

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Today’s Top Stories

Dave & Dujanovic

Guests look over items during the opening of Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry in American Fork on ...

Mark Jones

Tabitha’s Way: Food pantry lending help to those in need

The co-founders of Tabitha's Way in Utah County joined Dave & Dujanovic on Thursday to discuss how their food pantry works and where they get their food.

11 months ago

debt...

Curt Gresseth

Ticktock: US steps closer to debt default

Robert Spendlove, senior vice president and economic and public policy officer at Zions Bank, joins the show to discuss what would happen if the federal government defaults on its debt.

11 months ago

FILE - Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., leaves a House GOP conference meeting on Capitol Hill in Washing...

Mark Jones

Legal expert weighs in on the future of Rep. George Santos

KSL Legal Analyst Greg Skordas joined Dave & Dujanovic to discuss the future of New York Rep. George Santos, who was indicted on 13 federal charges on Wednesday.

11 months ago

social media posts...

Devin Oldroyd

What is law enforcement’s role in monitoring social media posts?

An alleged gunman who killed eight in Texas left behind alarming social media posts. should law enforcement have seen this tragedy coming?

11 months ago

Sprinklers water a lawn in Salt Lake City on Friday, May 7, 2021. (Spenser Heaps, Deseret News)...

Curt Gresseth

Are you eligible for a landscape rebate?

Only 35 of Utah’s 329 cities qualify for the landscape rebate, which pays homeowners $3 per square foot to rip out their thirsty lawns. Cynthia Bee of the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District joins the show to discuss the statewide program.

11 months ago

riverbanks...

Curt Gresseth

Riverbanks are scary unstable now, so stay back, warns safety expert

Jason Curry, director of the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, joins the show to talk about how dangerous not only the raging rivers are now but also the banks can be deadly unstable, too.

11 months ago

Sponsored Articles

close up of rose marvel saliva blooms in purple...

Shannon Cavalero

Drought Tolerant Perennials for Utah

The best drought tolerant plants for Utah can handle high elevations, alkaline soils, excessive exposure to wind, and use of secondary water.

Group of cheerful team members high fiving each other...

Visit Bear Lake

How To Plan a Business Retreat in Bear Lake This Spring

Are you wondering how to plan a business retreat this spring? Read our sample itinerary to plan a team getaway to Bear Lake.

Cheerful young woman writing an assignment while sitting at desk between two classmates during clas...

BYU EMBA at the Marriott School of Business

Hear it Firsthand: 6 Students Share Their Executive MBA Experience at BYU’s Marriott School of Business

The Executive MBA program at BYU offers great opportunities. Hear experiences straight from students enrolled in the program.

Skier being towed by a rider on a horse. Skijoring....

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking for a New Winter Activity? Try Skijoring in Bear Lake

Skijoring is when someone on skis is pulled by a horse, dog, animal, or motor vehicle. The driver leads the skiers through an obstacle course over jumps, hoops, and gates.

Banner with Cervical Cancer Awareness Realistic Ribbon...

Intermountain Health

Five Common Causes of Cervical Cancer – and What You Can Do to Lower Your Risk

January is National Cervical Cancer Awareness month and cancer experts at Intermountain Health are working to educate women about cervical cancer.

Kid holding a cisco fish at winterfest...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get Ready for Fun at the 2023 Bear Lake Monster Winterfest

The Bear Lake Monster Winterfest is an annual weekend event jam-packed full of fun activities the whole family can enjoy.

Canceling drag show will cost St. George taxpayers $600,000+