A jury has awarded over $1.1 million to Eric Posey, an Idaho drag performer, after he was defamed by a far-right blogger who falsely claimed he exposed himself during a Pride event in June 2022. The Kootenai County District Court jury found that Summer Bushnell defamed Posey by posting a doctored video of his performance with a blurred spot, falsely suggesting he exposed his genitals to the crowd, including children.
Posey, who performs under the stage name Mona Liza Million, wore a long-sleeve leotard, black shorts, and tights during his three performances at the Pride in the Park event, with no indecent exposure occurring. Prosecutors declined to file any charges.
“The judicial system did what needed to be done,” Posey said after the verdict.
The jury awarded Posey $926,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $250,000 in punitive damages after determining Bushnell knew her allegations were false or made them with reckless disregard for the truth.
The Pride event made headlines due to the arrest of 31 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front nearby. Bushnell posted a video of herself discussing the arrests and included footage of Posey’s performance, falsely accusing him of flashing his genitalia. Her edited video went viral, prompting a national outcry and a police investigation.
After the verdict, Posey was emotional, embracing his lawyers and friends. “The jury’s verdict demonstrates a clear message to this community that you have to be truthful,” said Wendy J. Olson, one of Posey’s attorneys.
Posey faced death threats and harassment as a result of the false claims, with the edited video becoming a symbol of a broader national movement against drag performers and the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the support from friends and true Idahoans, Posey described the experience as being in a “dark hole.”
Jurors, who deliberated for three and a half hours after a five-day trial, expressed their sympathy to Posey, with one juror even apologizing to him outside the courthouse. The North Idaho Pride Alliance, which organized the event, thanked the jurors and reaffirmed their commitment to the safety of the LGBTQ+ community in North Idaho.
As of Friday evening, Bushnell’s posts and videos remained online despite the court’s decision.
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