COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — In a compelling legal victory, an Idaho drag performer was awarded over $1.1 million after a jury found that false accusations had been made against him by a far-right blogger. The blogger had claimed that the performer exposed himself to minors during a 2022 Pride celebration, an allegation that was later disproven.
The Kootenai County District Court concluded on Friday that Summer Bushnell, the blogger, had defamed Eric Posey, a resident of Post Falls, by circulating a manipulated video of his performance at the event. Posey was depicted in the video with a strategically blurred area which Bushnell falsely described as covering his genitals.
In truth, the original footage revealed no such exposure, and authorities saw no grounds for charges against Posey. Following the ruling, the performer remarked on the justice served by the trial’s outcome.
The jury determined that Posey should receive $926,000 in compensatory damages due to defamation. They also awarded an additional $250,000 in punitive damages after finding that Bushnell either knew her claims were untrue or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
During the Pride in the Park event which took center stage not only for Posey’s performance but also due to the arrest of 31 members of the Patriot Front, a white supremacist group, Posey, under his stage name Mona Liza Million, performed wearing a long-sleeve leotard, shorts, tights, and a metallic boa, without disrobing.
Bushnell, reacting to the mass arrest and Posey’s performance, posted comments and a video online asserting Posey’s indecency in front of children, prompting a wave of misinformation. Her edited video, sourced from a local videographer, rapidly spread across the internet, causing both national media attention and a police inquiry.
Even as she left the courtroom post-verdict without expression, Posey’s emotional response contrasted sharply as he tearfully embraced his legal team and supporters. Wendy J. Olson, Posey’s attorney, highlighted the verdict as a community message demanding truth and accountability.
Posey has encountered significant adversity following the incident, including death threats and becoming an unwilling symbol in a broader national controversy over drag performances. Legal experts and advocates have frequently cautioned about the potential for such misleading narratives to incite extremist actions.
Years of overarching support from friends and local community members provided Posey with crucial backing throughout his ordeal. He shared an emotional moment in court, discussing the isolation and betrayal he felt initially, yet, praised the resilience and loyalty of his local friends who stood by him.
Following the trial’s conclusion after five days and about three and a half hours of jury deliberation, several jurors personally expressed their sympathies to Posey outside the courthouse, celebrating his vindication.
Although the jury inquired whether they could mandate Bushell to retract her statements and issue a public apology, the presiding judge, Ross Pittman, indicated that this wasn’t within their power to enforce. As of last reported, the defamatory posts remained accessible online.
This legal decision occurs within a larger societal context where the North Idaho Pride Alliance and its supporters firmly resolve to continue their efforts in safeguarding and promoting the rights of the LGBTQ+ individuals across the region.