Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) had advised the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation Inc. prior to Wednesday’s scheduled performance of “A Drag Queen Christmas” at Plaza Live to ensure that minors were “prohibited” from participating in the event.
Its letter read in part:
“It has come to the Department's attention that you have contracted with Big Time Operator, LLC d/b/a ‘Drag Fans' to offer the use of your licensed premises to conduct the ‘drag show' performance,” the department stated in its letter, citing reasons for believing that the performance would include “exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children's stories.”
The department also stated that the shows had been “marketed to and attended by minors, including young children.”
“Sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance,” the letter continued, laying out “strict penalties for licensees who allow minors to attend these drag shows at their licensed premises.”
In the end, the department warned that it was “your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show” to ensure that no action would be taken.
“If minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and [all] actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future,” it concluded.
The alert comes after the department was informed of the drag show that was held in Fort Lauderdale, prompting an investigation due to minors attending the event.
“The Department will share any collected evidence with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for potential criminal liability,” a statement shared by Governor Ron DeSantis's (R) press secretary, Bryan Griffin, outlined.
The show, which is currently wrapping up the final leg of its tour across the country, actually does show sexually explicit scenes and features characters such as “‘Screwdolph the Red Nippled Reindeer.” Videos from other events across the country showcase drag queens conversing with youngsters during the sexually explicit event.
