Orlando ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ Cancelled Due To ‘Threats’
ORLANDO (FLV) – A “Drag Queen Story Hour” event scheduled for this upcoming weekend in Orlando has been cancelled due to threats from “hate groups,” according to the LGBT+ Center Orlando Facebook page.
Drag Story Hour (DSH) is a 501c(3) non-profit that uses drag to share love and acceptance through inclusive storytelling.
The Facebook post said:
“Due to several threats from hate groups aimed at The Center and to those participating in Drag Queen Story Hour, we have decided to cancel the event for this Saturday’s Halloween Edition scheduled for 2PM.
We take these threats very seriously and would not want to endanger or expose children and their parents and guardians to bigotry and hate. We have the support of so many in our community including law enforcement, but as much as we would like to continue this fun-loving, innocent event, we feel that the safety of our community is our number one concern.
Thank you for your understanding that we live in challenging times right now, and we don’t want to expose or endanger innocent children to hate, bigotry or violence.“
Facebook: LGBT+ Center Orlando – The Center
The LGBT+ Center Orlando, Inc. says their mission is to promote and empower the LGBT Community and its allies through information, education, advocacy and support.
This comes after a recent national report of a protestors throwing rocks and smoke grenades at each other outside a drag queen story time event at an Oregon pub.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) previously served a complaint to a Miami bar for hosting drag shows for children, which included an obscene performer dancing with children in a viral video.
A viral video of the bar, R House Wynwood, showed a provocative performer leading a young child around the restaurant to dance. The bar reportedly has 21 days to respond to the administrative complaint. The bar could lose its liquor license if it is found to be in violation of local laws and codes.
Gov. Ron DeSantis commented on the “disturbing” incident that took place at the bar.
“We said wait a minute, having kids involved in this is wrong. That is not consistent with our law and policy in the state of Florida. And it is a disturbing trend in our society to try to sexualize these young people,” DeSantis said. “That is not the way you look out for our children. You protect children. You do not expose them to things that are inappropriate.”
In June, DeSantis said his staff would look into ways to prevent kids from being exposed to drag shows. Those comments took place after a video surfaced showing a provocative dancer at a child drag show in Dallas, Texas.
