The District won’t be able to recoup costs for police overtime spent on closing down streets for the High Heel Race because the annual jaunt around Dupont Circle in which men dress up as women has been labeled a “First Amendment event.”
E-mails among police officials obtained by The Washington Examiner show that Mayor Adrian Fenty designated the Halloween-season event as a protected First Amendment event in September 2009. With one month to go before the High Heels came out, police had to find the personnel to staff the evens. They also had to find the cash for the overtime, an estimated $15,000.
First Amendment events typically mean rallies, but the term can also be applied to races. D.C. code requires a “race” to have a start and finish line. It notes they can often be held for charitable purposes, but they don’t have to.
On Tuesday, a longtime supporter of the Dupont High Heel Race, Dave Perruzza told TBD.com that women are discouraged from racing.
