Florida hotel agrees to pay fine, ban minors from explicit performances after previous drag show
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation announced the Hyatt Regency in Miami would settle after allowing children to attend a “lewd and lascivious” drag show in December 2022.
The show titled “A Drag Queen Christmas” made stops in 36 cities in the United States, including Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater. The Miami tour stop occurred at the James L. Knight Center, which is connected to the Hyatt Regency Miami.
A press release from the state said after reviewing the evidence “allowing minors to attend age-inappropriate entertainment shows of a sexual nature,” the department filed an administrative complaint charging them with multiple criminal violations.
Florida’s Voice attended the Miami show and shared video of one performance that included “Screwdolph the red-nippled reindeer” with breasts that lit up red. The Miami show displayed drag queens and others dancing sensually.
The venue agreed to the following:
- Pay an administrative fine of $5,000 to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) within 30 days.
- Not permit patrons under 18 to any performance conducted in the James L. Knight Center, or any successor performance center under the License, that contains, depicts or simulates any activities described by section 847.001(23), Florida Statues.
- Abstain from selling or serving food or beverages for any performance in the James L. Knight Center, or any successor performance center under the License, that contains, depicts, or simulates any activities described by section 847.001(23), Florida Statutes, if one or more patrons under the age of 18 are admitted to said performance.
In March, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration said they would move forward with revoking the venue’s alcohol license for hosting a “sexually explicit show with children present.”
“Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, when licensees break the law, they are held accountable,” said Melanie S. Griffin, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation secretary.
Griffin thanked the officers who investigated the violations in a press release.
The department said this is the third settlement this year “enforcing Florida law and protecting minors from future exposure to lewd and lascivious content.”
In June, Florida’s Voice reported that the upcoming 2023 “Drag Queen Christmas” national tour would be limiting tickets to 18 years and older following national backlash from the 2022 tour.
The pre-sale alert for the 2023 drag show was sent via email and stated, “This year, the tour is 18+ only.”
In June, Florida’s new legislation that prohibits children from attending “adult live performances,” was temporarily blocked from going into effect until the court reviews the constitutionality of the policy.
