Christmas Drag Show Touring FL Investigated By State: Official

FLORIDA — State officials are investigating a holiday-themed drag show touring Florida for allegedly marketing to families with children, which a state lawmaker described as political posturing and intimidation of businesses.

“A Drag Queen Christmas,” a 36-city national tour, had stops scheduled in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando and Clearwater from Dec. 26-29, according to the show’s website. The tour ends Thursday at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

Officials from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation are looking into Monday’s show in Fort Lauderdale, claiming that it’s a "sexually explicit performance marketed to children,” according to a statement tweeted Tuesday by Bryan Griffin, the press secretary for Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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Investigators are reviewing videos and photos from the show.

“Exposing children to sexually explicit activity is a crime in Florida, and such activity is a crime in Florida, and such action violates the department’s licensing standards for operating a business and holding a liquor license,” Griffin said. “The department will share any collected evidence with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for potential criminal liability.”

The show’s producers, Murray & Peter Present, shared an image from Wednesday’s show in Orlando, writing, “Florida parents are amazing! Thank you for supporting us as we stand by you!”

As the Orlando drag show began, the Plaza Live venue received a notice from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation that warned if minors were allowed to attend the drag show the department would take action to ensure there is no threat to minors, Spectrum News reported.

“The actions by DBPR targeting drag shows across the state is political performance and also intimidation. The notion of losing your liquor license is huge for any small business, especially Plaza Live,” said Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani.

She told Spectrum News she’s had enough of what she called homophobic messaging.

“It’s incredibly ironic, Gov. DeSantis continues to demonize LGBTQ+ people and performances, meanwhile if it’s Hooters or if (a movie or TV show) is rated M or R you don’t see that same type of rhetoric or concern of the wellbeing of children,” Eskamani said.

Earlier this year, DeSantis and state investigators targeted a Miami drag brunch at R House in Wynwood after a July 3 video showed a performer wearing nipple covers and a thong holding the hand of a girl attending the show.

“It is a disturbing trend in our society to try to sexualize these young people. That is not the way you protect children. You look out for children,” the governor said at the time.