DeSantis Administration Sends Threatening Letter to Orlando Venue Reportedly Set to Host ‘All-Ages Drag Show’

The DeSantis administration isn’t backing down in the fight to protect children from sexually explicit drag shows.

On Wednesday, the governor’s administration sent a threatening letter to an Orlando venue allegedly planning to host an ‘all-ages drag show.

The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation received notice from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which warned their license could be revoked should children attend a Wednesday drag show.

According to the letter, the venue contracted with Big Time Operator, LLC d/b/a “Drag Fans” to offer the use of the licensed premises to conduct the “drag show” performance “A Drag Queen Christmas.”

The letter, sent by Melanie S. Griffin, the Florida Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation, threatened to revoke the business’ license should children attend the drag show.

“In short, if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy,” the letter stated.

NEW @FloridaDBPR message to Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation: no minors at upcoming drag shows.

“.. if you allow children to attend the Drag Fans drag show at your facility, you are putting your license in jeopardy”

Letter & link to @WFLA story 👇🏽 https://t.co/ppYIrf9XmW pic.twitter.com/LMkTYibBmw

— MAHSA SAEIDI, ESQ.🕵🏼 ‎مهسا (@MahsaWho) December 28, 2022

According to WFLA, the DeSantis administration launched an investigation into a Fort Lauderdale venue to determine if a holiday drag show exposed children to sexually-explicit acts.

The investigation, led by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, was announced in a statement by Jeremy T. Redfern, deputy press secretary for DeSantis.

“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. DBPR will, like in other cases, take action,” the statement obtained by WFLA said. “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.”

“A Drag Queen Christmas”, is a holiday-themed drag show that tours across the country, featuring alumni from the reality series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The event was held at the Broward Center of the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale on Monday and is scheduled to take place at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall on Thursday.

The show features adult themes and content, and admission is limited to patrons 18 years of age or over, according to the event details page. Proof of age is required. However, the state said it learned the show was being “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,” Secretary of Business and Professional Regulation Melanie S. Griffin said in a letter, citing a Florida statute that forbids operating a building for the purpose of lewdness.