Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a warning Wednesday to an Orlando venue against allowing minors to attend what is being touted as an “all-ages” Christmas-themed drag show.
This is due to what the state claims is the show’s “sexual nature involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children’s stories.”
“A Drag Queen Chrismas” set the internet on fire after a video surfaced showing young children in the audience while, on stage, the costumed men performed such songs as “Screwdolph the Red Nippled Reindeer” while grinding against each other.
**WARNING The following videos contain disturbing content. **
“Screwdolph the Red Nippled Reindeer”.
In this performance they simulated sex countless times, sexualized a child’s story, including Santa, and had sexual videos playing in the background.
When the host asked a child what his favorite part of the show is he replied “nothing”. pic.twitter.com/rmrkCb5eJ2
— Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) December 15, 2022
The controversial show toured through, among other states, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, before heading to Florida’s Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, where, as American Wire News reported, it was met with a formal investigation.
Local activist Chris Nelson posted clips of the Ft. Lauderdale performance, in which he called out performer Nina West “for inviting and allowing children to come to her sexually explicit shows!”
https://twitter.com/ReOpenChris/status/1607775445776203777?s=20&t=35yXsubtgwL84-MLs9DGaA
In a statement on Tuesday, Bryan Griffin, press secretary to Gov. DeSantis, stated: “The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is aware of multiple complaints about a sexually explicit performance marketed to children held in Fort Lauderdale on December 26th. The Department is actively investigating this matter, including video footage and photographs from the event. DPBR will, like in other cases, take action. 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.”
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
On Wednesday, ahead of the show’s opening at Orlando’s Plaza Live venue, the DeSantis administration doubled down on its determination to protect the children in his state from woke assaults on their innocence.
In a letter addressed to the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation and signed by the state’s Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation, Melanie S. Griffin informed the venue that “sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance.”
“Accordingly, Florida’s licensure laws provide strict penalties for licensees who allow minors to attend these drag shows at their licensed premises,” the letter continued. “These penalties range up to and include revocation of the license pertaining to the licensed premises.”
“In short,” it stated, “if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy.”
“To avoid action being taken against your license, it is your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show,” it concluded. “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.”
BREAKING: DeSantis Administration warns Orlando venue about children at drag show tonight. pic.twitter.com/ZljZchUgVZ
— The Florida Standard (@theflstandard) December 28, 2022
But despite Florida’s warning, the show did indeed go on, and reports are that children were present.
WATCH: A child is seen in the audience watching sexual drag performances pic.twitter.com/vpl1J3js6f
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 29, 2022
#BREAKING: Children spotted entering into Orlando drag show
The DeSantis Administration threatened to suspend the venue's license if children are exposed to sexually explicit drag performances pic.twitter.com/9c4ceb165F
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 29, 2022
Outside the venue, roughly 30 protesters verbally clashed with far-left activists, with one man yelling, “Pedophiles not welcome!”
A protestor outside the all-ages Drag Queen Christmas show in Orlando highlights how many people are speaking out against such events, including groups like Gays Against Groomers.
Another man yells “Pedophiles not welcome!” at the far-left counter-protesters. pic.twitter.com/40CqvilZ30
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 29, 2022
A man outside the all-ages Drag Queen Christmas show in Orlando praises Gov. Ron DeSantis for taking action to protect children. Far-left counter protesters chant “F*ck DeSantis” in response.
Footage by TPM’s Beth Baisch @PuffinsPictures pic.twitter.com/pIgE7LPkBn
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 29, 2022
Meanwhile, support for DeSantis’ strong approach to the blatantly sexual “all-age” drag shows is overwhelming.
“Good. This should be sent to every single business operating in Florida that in any way, shape or form, collaborates with drag performances,” wrote one user on Twitter. “Keep adult content away from children.”
“Any decent minded people of any the other 49 states should demand the same,” tweeted another. “Have your drag shows, just keep them behind closed doors and keep the under 17 out.”
“The DeSantis administration is spot on,” stated a third. “There is nothing ‘family friendly’ about lewd exhibitions or the sexualization of children’s stories.”
Good. This should be sent to every single business operating in Florida that in any way, shape or form, collaborates with drag performances. Keep adult content away from children.
— Milenka~ (@MilenaAmit) December 28, 2022
Any decent minded people of any the other 49 states should demand the same. Have your drag shows, just keep them behind closed doors and keep the under 17 out.
— TimmerMcGraw, CFI (@TimmerMcGraw) December 28, 2022
The DeSantis administration is spot on. There is nothing “family friendly” about lewd exhibitions or the sexualization of children’s stories.
— Helen Aguirre Ferré (@helenaguirrefer) December 28, 2022
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