NO ‘LEWD’ ACTS AT ORLANDO DRAG SHOW

Desantis Is Going After The Venue Anyway

Jason Parsley

Undercover agents were sent to watch a performance of “A Drag Queen Christmas” at The Plaza Live theater in Orlando in December in order to document whether children were being exposed to lewd acts.

Their report: Nothing to see here.

“Besides some of the outfits being provocative [bikinis and short shorts], agents did not witness any lewd acts such as exposure of genital organs,” the brief report stated, as reported by the Miami Herald. “The performers did not have any physical contact while performing to the rhythm of the music with any patrons.”

Agents took photos of three minors who appeared to be accompanied by adults.

Despite the report the DeSantis administration targeted the nonprofit that runs the venue and has threatened its liquor license.

Russell Cormican, a local attorney who specializes in First Amendment law, sees a larger goal.

“The danger presented here is not confined to only the venue targeted in the complaint. When the government violates the First Amendment rights of a segment of its population the result is a ‘chilling effect’ on others engaged in similar expression,” he said. “It is likely that other venues will shy away from presenting drag shows and that performers may elect to change their routines or abandon drag altogether. The fear of enforcement will cause people to curtail their constitutionally protected expression.”

According to the Miami Herald, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation claimed “Plaza Live had allowed children to see ‘acts of sexual conduct, simulated sexual activity, and lewd, vulgar and indecent displays’ — in violation of state laws that ban showing ‘lewd or lascivious’ materials to minors under the age of 16.”

Losing its liquor license would be a devastating blow to The Plaza Live, potentially forcing it to shut down. The Herald pointed out that even though the complaints asserted the venue broke state decency laws, prosecutors have not filed any criminal charges. Instead the state is handling it as a license-compliance issue.

Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former Democratic state legislator from Orlando, told the Herald the report shows the outrage over drag shows is a “hoax.”

“What you see here is the governor sending in investigators and then dismissing what the investigators have to say because it doesn’t fit into his narrative,” said Guillermo Smith, who now works for Equality Florida. “It’s more evidence that all of this … is contrived, it’s politically motivated. And it’s not about protecting children. It’s part of an ongoing effort to marginalize LGBT people and their allies because that’s the vehicle that will get him to … the GOP nomination.”

Recently the DeSantis administration has revoked the liquor license of the Hyatt Miami over a drag show and is investigating the Broward Center for Performing Arts as well.

“The actions taken by Gov. DeSantis and the DBPR are not only an affront to LGBTQ rights, but also show a complete lack of respect for the rights and freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Drag performance enjoys a long theatrical history and is an important part of gay culture. It is also a form of expression that receives protection from government interference under the First Amendment,” Cormican said. “The reality is that these performances are no more explicit than a PG movie, a WWE wrestling show, or a beauty pageant swimsuit competition. The fact that DeSantis has singled out drag shows for this type of enforcement speaks volumes about his true motive.”