A CLUELESS CAPITOL AND ITS OBSESSION WITH DRAG SHOWS

The Florida Legislature has become a parody of itself.

A state Capitol that was once a place of stirring debate on the overriding issues of the day is now all about “prosthetic genitals.” Tallahassee has lost its way. That’s what happens when one party has total control.

The latest illustration of the Legislature’s flight from reality came March 24 in the House Commerce Committee as Republicans pushed ahead with a bill they say is for “protection of children.”

The hypocrisy is staggering.

Too many Florida kids go to bed at night hungry, and too many others die or suffer life-altering trauma from gun violence.

But some of the same House members who a few hours later voted to legalize the permitless carrying of concealed weapons have decided that the real danger to our kids is not loaded guns.

It’s drag shows.

You may have been canceled by your property insurance carrier, or someone you care about is couchsurfing to avoid living on the streets. But the supermajority in Tallahassee is fighting to protect kids from, among other things, “the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.” things,” he said.

The bill makes it a crime for a business to allow a minor child into a live show that “predominantly appeals to a prurient, shameful, or morbid interest; is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community of this state as a whole with respect to what is suitable material or conduct for the age of the child present; and taken as a whole, is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present.” lawmakers.

It’s already illegal for a person to knowingly allow a minor into a show with “nudity, sexual conduct, (or) sexual excitement.” That’s how Gov. Ron DeSantis is trying to revoke the liquor licenses of a Hyatt Regency hotel in Miami and at Plaza Live in Orlando, both of which hosted “A Drag Show Christmas” over the holidays (in Miami, for the eighth year in a row).

IF KIDS AT DRAG SHOWS ARE OFF LIMITS, FINE WAS ASKED, WHAT ABOUT A GATHERING AT HOOTERS WHERE THE WAITRESS SINGS HAPPY BIRTHDAY?

Democrats call the bill overly subjective. They pelted Fine with questions for more than an hour, asking him to define “knowingly,” and “lewd,” and what constitutes a “live” performance, and whether Pride parades with drag performers might be outlawed.

They said they raise money for charity, that politically charged attacks on them have led to hateful messages and ugly threats from Neo-Nazis and others and that widespread cancellations will follow if the bill becomes law. They testified that they don’t approve of kids being at their shows, but that it’s a decision for parents to make.

“Drag is theater. Drag is artistic. Drag is flamboyant. Drag is outrageous,” said Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, who voted against the bill. “Drag is about radical love and acceptance. That is why it exists. That is why I support it.” creating a “manufactured moral panic” in Florida.

The vote was 13 to 6. Every yes vote was cast by Republicans, and every no vote was cast by Democrats.

Supporters included Broward’s lone Republican lawmaker, Chip LaMarca of Lighthouse Point, along with Reps. Webster Barnaby of Deltona, Toby Overdorf of Palm City, Bob Rommel of Naples and Tyler Sirois of Merritt Island.

That’s the precise language of House Bill 1423. Its sponsor, Rep. Randy Fine of Palm Bay, said his bill is necessary because too many parents don’t have enough sense to protect their own kids from indecency.

But his bill won’t punish parents. Rather, a bouncer or ticket-taker who allows a kid into a drag show could be jailed for up to a year.

Fine acknowledged he’s not an expert on the subject of his own bill.

“Fortunately, I personally have very little personal experience with these kinds of

If kids at drag shows are off limits, Fine was asked, what about a gathering at Hooters where the waitress sings Happy Birthday?

“It’s not a show in front of a live audience,” Fine said.

Drag performers pleaded with the state to leave them alone. An offensive undercurrent running through the hearing was that performers are pedophiles. “Erica” said she became a performer as a tribute to her late mother, who died of cancer.

“This bill is just shutting us down and putting us back in a closet,” she told

Rep. Dotie Joseph, D-North Miami, called Fine’s bill “state-sponsored homophobia” and added: “It’s bludgeoning businesses over the head for supporting a community that needs our help more than ever.”

Opponents accused Republicans of

Democrats who voted no were Eskamani, Joseph, and Bruce Antone of Orlando, Kristen Arrington of Kissimmee, Christopher Benjamin of Miami Gardens and Kimberly Daniels of Jacksonville.

Under HB 1423, it could be a crime for a child to attend a live show “without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

That sounds a lot like the House Commerce Committee.