Florida Democrats host annual gala with guest speakers, drag performance
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (FLV) – Over the weekend, Miami Beach became the focal point for Florida Democrats as they gathered for the annual Leadership Blue conference.
The multi-day event was held at the Fontainebleau Hotel and included workshops, along with a gala that included a drag performance.
Tickets to the gala were sold at $300 per person, according to the event website. CBS Miami reported the crowd had around 750 people.
The event was open to registered Democrats and included many activists and elected officials.
A video shared on Twitter by user @BenFriedman showed a “surprise drag show” at the event with drag queen Velvet Lenore.
Best way to end the Leadership Blue gala in Miami: a surprise drag show.
— Ben Friedman (@BenFriedman) July 9, 2023
Well done @FlaDems and @NikkiFried! pic.twitter.com/6CwwCgWv0O
In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law to penalize businesses and people who admit children into “adult live performances.” The move comes after venues in Florida allowed children to attend drag shows with “sexual” content.
Lenore reportedly criticized DeSantis and his Republicans on the issue and said “they were wrong in their attempts to criminalize certain drag shows.”
“They’re trying to say drag is a crime, and it’s not,” Lenore said.
Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre, reacted to the event on Twitter Monday.
“You can’t make this stuff up. On the same weekend that I posted a video showing our culture under attack, the Florida Democrats ended their annual fundraiser with a drag show,” Rudman said.
You can’t make this stuff up. On the same weekend that I posted a video showing our culture under attack, the Florida Democrats ended their annual fundraiser with a drag show. #Culturewarrior #Thisbattlechoseus #Wewillnotgoquietly
— Dr Joel Rudman for Florida House District 3 (@doc_rudman) July 10, 2023
The event’s keynote speaker was actor and Democratic activist, Bradley Whitford, who reportedly mocked DeSantis as a “wannabe MAGA dictator.”
“He’s afraid of history. He’s afraid of people loving each other,” Whitford said. “He’s afraid of people who are different from him. He’s afraid of Donald Trump.”
Florida Democrats tweeted a photo of Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried on Friday along with a caption regarding DeSantis’ presidential run.
“Chair @NikkiFried kicks off #LeadBlue2023 at our first event of the weekend with two promises: November 2022 will never happen again. Ron DeSantis will never become the President of the United States of America,” the post said.
Chair @NikkiFried kicks off #LeadBlue2023 at our first event of the weekend with two promises:
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) July 7, 2023
1️⃣ November 2022 will never happen again.
2️⃣ Ron DeSantis will never become the President of the United States of America. pic.twitter.com/WmQy723HmM
