The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pursuing revocation of the liquor license of a music foundation that hosted a drag-themed Christmas show attended by children.
Axios reports that the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation on Friday.
The petition notes that the Foundation was operating as a “performing arts center” when they were licensed to serve alcoholic beverages during a “Drag Queen Christmas” show three days after Christmas of 2022.
The DBPR complaint provides several images of young children at the show despite its “sexually explicit nature.”
They allege the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation violated state law by allowing “a person to commit lewd or lascivious exhibition ‘in the presence of a victim who is less than 16 years of age.'”
Other exhibits included in the filing show minor children were able to witness performers “wearing sexually suggestive clothing and female genitalia” while also engaging in “simulated sexual activity.”
Revoking the liquor license of a venue that flouted the law by allowing minors to attend a sexually explicit performance is a perfectly appropriate use of state power. If your state leaders are not doing likewise, you should demand to know why. https://t.co/CTnDyWHu6i
— Megan Basham (@megbasham) February 5, 2023
DeSantis Takes Aim at Drag Show Performances in the Presence of Children
The Political Insider previously reported that the DeSantis administration, around the same time as the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation drag show, was targeting another drag event in Fort Lauderdale which allegedly exposed children to “sexualized acts.”
Bryan Griffin, press secretary for the governor, issued a statement at the time and even hinted the DBPR was looking at criminal charges should the investigation show children were exposed to “sexually explicit activity.”
“Exposing children to sexually explicit activity is a crime in Florida, and such action violates the Department’s licensing standards for operating a business and holding a liquor license,” the statement read.
Thank you to those who flagged the event for us. Please see the following statement: pic.twitter.com/D8N8a6SPNa
— Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) December 27, 2022
Forcing sexual content onto children as a way to normalize it is not something DeSantis will ever shy away from it seems, drag show or otherwise.
The Florida governor famously signed parental rights legislation that restricts teachers and school districts from giving classroom instruction on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade.
Disallowing sexual conversations with children ill-equipped to understand what they’re being indoctrinated with, you may recall, left former White House press secretary Jen Psaki in tears.
Jen Psaki, who has an MSNBC gig lined up, beaks down in tears while discussing Florida law in an interview with @JessicaYellin
“I’m going to get emotional about this issue because it’s horrible … this is an issue that makes me completely crazy.” pic.twitter.com/SQNDM2TY6F
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) April 19, 2022
RELATED: Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Set to Ban Drag Shows for Children in Arkansas
Joy Reid Says DeSantis Turning Florida Into a ‘Right-Wing Fantasy Land’
The same media and Democrats who will surely denounce DeSantis for going after the liquor license of a business trying to inundate children with sexual performances were, not all that long ago, cheering on New York’s former governor for doing the same regarding businesses for not adhering to social distancing edicts.
In other words, they don’t have any moral high ground to argue this matter.
MSNBC host Joy Reid recently had a meltdown in part due to Governor DeSantis’ efforts to protect children from lewd drag shows.
“He’s taking aim at drag performances, even suggesting that he would urge the state’s child protective services to investigate parents who take their own kids to one,” the left-wing host lamented.
MSNBC’s @JoyAnnReid: ” @GovRonDeSantis is turning Fla. into a right-wing paradise where the focus isn’t on healthcare or jobs or taxes or infrastructure or … but rather on the right-wing culture wars … Like Disney World, but in hell. Come to Fla., the meanest place on Earth” pic.twitter.com/94J6QPcXdL
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 1, 2023
No, Joy, hell is a state that allows children to be subjected to sexually explicit drag shows while the adults who should know better do nothing about it, or worse, actively cheer on the groomers.
