DeSantis Administration Issues Warning to Another Drag Show Venue: ‘You Are Putting Your License in Jeopardy’
CLEARWATER (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Department of Business & Professional Regulation issued another warning surrounding sexually explicit drag shows. For the Dec. 29 ‘Drag Queen Christmas’ show, they warned Ruth Eckerd Hall of Clearwater that children cannot be exposed to “sexually explicit performances.”
“The Department has reason to believe that this drag show is of a sexual nature, involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children’s stories,” they wrote. “To avoid action being taken against your license, it is your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show.”
The DeSantis Administration also threatened to revoke the license of an Orlando venue ahead of a sexually explicit Christmas drag show Dec. 28, after the event occurred in several Florida cities this week – welcoming all ages and prompting an investigation from the state of Florida.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issued the following letter to the The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, which reads in part:
The Department has reason to believe that this drag show is of a sexual nature, involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children’s stories. The Department has also become aware that drag shows by Drag Fans have been marketed to and attended by minors, including young children.
Sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance.
In short, if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy.
To avoid action being taken against your license, it is your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show.
If minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and all actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future.
Melanie S. Griffin
Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation
The DeSantis Administration cited Florida’s licensure laws that provide strict penalties for licensees who allow minors to attend these drag shows at their licensed premises (sections 561.29(1)(a) and 561.29(1)(c), Florida Statutes).
These penalties range up to and include revocation of the license pertaining to the licensed premises, according to the statement.
Below is a copy of the full letter dated December 28:
The drag show ended up having children confirmed in attendance viewing sexually explicit performances:
“A Drag Queen Christmas” announced a tour for 36 cities in the United States, including Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater.
The Miami show displayed drag queens and others dancing sensually. For example, one performance included “Screwdolph the red-nippled reindeer” with breasts that lit up red.
A similar letter was sent on Dec. 27 from the DeSantis Administration to the Miami Venue, HRM Owner, LLC.
The Miami performance took place at the James L. Knight Center Tuesday night. It was also originally promoted as an “all ages” show prior to critical onlookers catching wind of the event. Days prior, the event was changed to being “recommended for audiences 18+. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.”
The Fort Lauderdale show was originally promoted as an “All-Ages show” that “may contain adult content.” However, days prior to the event it was changed to say “limited to patrons 18 years of age or over, unless accompanied by a parent.”
The Orlando show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Wednesday at The Plaza Live.
Click here to see the previous story from the Miami show on Tuesday.
Eric Daugherty contributed to this report.
