Dozens of Pensacola residents used the Leroy Boyd public‑comment period at the Sept. 11 City Council meeting to urge elected officials to cancel a Dec. 23 “Drag Queen Christmas” performance at the city‑owned Sanger Theatre.

Speakers said the production is offensive to Christians, inappropriate for the holidays and potentially harmful to children. Several cited a provision in the Sanger management agreement — paragraph 2.6 — that they said gives the city authority to review and disapprove events deemed “injurious to public health or to the general welfare of the community.” Pastor James Johnson, who identified himself as pastor of Northstone Baptist Church, said he reviewed the management agreement and asked the council to “disinvite” the show.

The city attorney told council members during the meeting that cancelling a contracted event poses substantial legal and financial risk. He said the city would face significant exposure both under its contract with the Sanger’s manager and under state and federal constitutional law protecting speech, and that his legal advice was not to cancel the booking.

Why it matters: The Sanger is a city‑owned venue and the council and mayor are publicly accountable for how it is used. The matter has drawn sizable public participation and could prompt policy or contract changes if officials decide to act differently for future bookings.

What residents said: Mark Price, who identified himself as a lifelong Pensacola resident, and others framed their objections in religious terms, saying the performance mocked Christmas and Christianity. Several speakers described the show as “vulgar,” “blasphemous” or “sexually explicit.” Speakers who identified church roles spoke directly to council members they said were fellow Christians and asked them to act.

What supporters and other voices said (public comments and staff): Councilmember Ashley Gallagher urged the council to adopt local protections for libraries and to separate that issue from the Sanger debate. City staff and legal counsel repeatedly emphasized the legal limits of the council’s authority to cancel a contracted event and warned of potential contract damages or constitutional claims if the city tried to unilaterally cancel.

Council response and next steps: Council members said they understood the public’s concern and suggested a separate, broader discussion about whether certain types of performances should be permitted at city venues. Several members reiterated the attorney’s view that cancelling this specific contracted event would likely expose the city to legal liability. Councilmembers also said they would consider whether policy or code changes — for example, clearer content or decency standards for city‑owned venues — would be appropriate going forward, but they did not announce any immediate cancellation or vote on the show.

Ending: The Sanger booking remains scheduled as of the Sept. 11 meeting. Residents who spoke said they will continue to press the council and mayor to act; the council’s next steps are likely to be a policy review or a staff report rather than an immediate cancellation of the contract.