Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis answers questions from the media in the Florida Cabinet following his State of the State address during a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida.
Phil Sears, File/AP Photo
Florida regulators revoked a hotel liquor license for hosting a drag show performance where minors were present.
The DeSantis administration had previously said it was looking into “A Drag Queen Christmas.”
The minors were allowed in as long as they were with an adult.
The DeSantis administration is revoking the Hyatt Regency Miami’s alcohol license after one of its facilities hosted “A Drag Queen Christmas” with minors present in the audience.
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a 17-page complaint Tuesday against the show’s venue, the James L. Knight Center, which is affiliated with Hyatt. The show required people under 18 to be accompanied by an adult as a condition of being allowed to attend.
“A Drag Queen Christmas” is a holiday-themed drag show that tours in 36 different cities and features stars from the reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
The state’s business department accused the facility of several violations, including a prohibition of “lascivious exhibition” before people younger than 16, though it’s not clear to what extent this law is generally enforced.
The department said performers were “wearing sexually suggesting clothing and posthetic female genitalia,” as well as simulating masturbation.
Regulators had warned the facility to change how it marketed the show before it went live, according to a copy of the letter included in the complaint. The letter accused the marketers of putting on a performance that constitutes “public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct” when minors are present.
The impetus of the letter was a screenshot where tickets were being sold that read “all ages welcome.” The department warned the venue not to admit minors or otherwise face penalties, including an alcohol license revocal.
According to the complaint, “A Drag Queen Christmas” updated its advertising to say that the show contained “adult content” and was recommended for people 18 and up, unless accomplanied by an adult.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is widely considered to be mounting a presidential campaign in 2024, supported the business department’s move.
“Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law,” Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary, told Insider. “Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in …read more
Source:: Business Insider