Fine: If defending children from sexual ideology means ‘erasing a community,’ then ‘we ought to do it’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – During a committee meeting Wednesday, Rep. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne Beach, had strong words for those arguing against a bill that would ban children from attending “adult live performances.”

“Adult live performance” means any show, exhibition, or other presentation in front of a live audience which, in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, specific sexual activities, lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.

Fine carried the bill, which passed through the State Administration and Technology Appropriations Subcommittee Wednesday by a vote of 10-5.

“The question is not why do I want to run this bill. […] The question is, why are there people in this world so determined to push this on children? Because, if you weren’t doing that, this bill wouldn’t exist,” Fine said.

The legislation will increase penalties if kids are allowed at performances that depict sexual conduct or lewd exposure.

The bill will authorize Florida to fine, suspend, or revoke the license of any public establishment that admits a child to “adult live performances” that depict or simulate nudity, sexual conduct, or lewd exposure.

The bill also makes it a third degree felony for a person to knowingly admit a child to an adult live performance that depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct or lewd exposure.

In December 2022, DeSantis stepped in to “revoke” multiple venue’s liquor licenses after a “sexual” drag show permitted entry to minors in Miami and Orlando.

His administration said the venue previously exposed and promoted lewd, obscene, and sexual acts to minors.

The bill would also prohibit state or local entities from issuing permits for a person to conduct an “adult live performance” in front of children. The person who issued the permit or provided authorization could be charged with a first degree misdemeanor.

Fine said this would not affect Hooters establishments.

Multiple Democrats opposed the bill in debate, including Rep. Angela Nixon, D-Jacksonville, who voiced concerns that she would not be able to take her child to Hamburger Mary’s anymore.

“How are you gonna tell me it’s inappropriate for me to take my child to Hamburger Mary’s?” Nixon said.

According to their website, Hamburger Mary’s serves food and drinks along with “high-quality entertainment” such as the “Dining with the Divas” drag show.

Fine said he is unfamiliar with the establishment, but never plans to go there.

“If Hamburger Mary’s, whatever they are, is engaged in ‘adult live performances’ as defined by section 827.11 under this bill, then yeah, you couldn’t do that. I don’t know whether they are or not,” Fine said.

Nixon referenced the state’s attempt to strip liquor licenses from venues that recently had drag shows.

She argued that were “not lewd and that were very family friendly.”

“This is a disgusting bill and is designed to target parents like me. It will – like everything – be selectively enforced by the state to target members of the LGBTQ community, as we’ve already seen, with DPBR taking away licenses of venues that host drag shows – that were not lewd and that were very family friendly,” Nixon argued.

Florida’s Voice previously reported the state filed complaint and said during the December show, “children appearing to be less than 16 years of age” were exposed to performers wearing “sexually suggestive clothing and prosthetic female genitalia.” Read the full complaint here.

“This just goes to show you, at the end of the day, this is about erasing the community because some people who have issues with diversity, equity, inclusion, some people have issues with – let’s be real – people are homophobic, people are transphobic, and now they’re trying to push their fear on other people,” Nixon said.

Following Nixon’s comments, Fine said he finds many of the arguments in opposition of this bill to be “incredibly harmful” to the gay and lesbian community.

“I find it stunning that in order to justify that community, you have to stand up and demand that children that children be exposed to this. They’re the ones that believe this definition speaks to them, not me. I haven’t said that,” Fine said.

“I’m not the one making those judgments. We have a definition. And they’re the ones that are saying this definition applies to them,” he said.

“Well, if it means erasing a community because you have to target children, well damn right, we ought to do it. I just don’t think you have to inherently say because you’re lesbian or gay, that you want to target children, I find that statement to be offensive to them,” Fine said in closing.

The bill previously passed 13-6 in the Commerce Committee and now heads to the Judiciary Committee.

A similar bill was introduced by Sen. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, in the Senate which already passed on the floor.