A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday denied Florida’s request to allow it to temporarily enforce a law that makes it a misdemeanor to allow children to attend a drag performance, a law challengers say, imposes unlawful restrictions on free speech.
The court, divided 6-3, with three conservatives dissenting, rejected an emergency request from Florida officials after lower courts blocked the law statewide.
The majority did not explain its reasoning. The three justices who would have granted the state’s request were Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch.
The brief unsigned order means that the state cannot apply the law anywhere in the state while a Florida restaurant’s challenge to the law continues.