FL Bar Targeted By DeSantis Complaint For Having Kids At Drag Shows

MIAMI, FL — After a TikTok video of a toddler holding the hand of a topless drag performer at R House Wynwood went viral earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a complaint against the Miami venue, putting its liquor license at risk, according to multiple reports.

The governor condemned the videos being shared across social media, Local 10 News reported. (The video can be viewed here.)

“There was a video out of Dallas where they had all these young kids, putting money in the underwear of these drag queens,” he said. “Having kids involved in this is wrong. That is not consistent with our law and policy in the state of Florida.”

Conservative media outlet Breitbart was the first to report that the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation served an administrative complaint on the bar Tuesday. R House has 21 days to respond and could lose its liquor license if it’s found to be in violation of local laws.

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According to the complaint, "on or about July 3, 2022, a nearly nude dancer was filmed parading a young girl through the audience” during a drag brunch, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. It also called “the sexualized nature” of the drag performances during brunch “pervasive.”

The complaint accuses R House of violating multiple state laws, including ones related to public nuisances, lewd activity, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.

“The nature of the performances described above, particularly when conducted in the presence of young children, corrupts the public morals and outrages the sense of public decency,” the complaint says, according to the Miami Herald.

In a statement, R House owners called the complaint “a misunderstanding,” reports said.

“We are aware of the complaint and are currently working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through our attorney, to rectify the situation,” they said. “We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis, a vociferous supporter and champion of Florida’s hospitality industry and small businesses, will see this as what it is, a misunderstanding, and that the matter will be resolved positively and promptly.”

In June, after controversy over a Dallas bar hosting a family-friendly drag show, Florida state Rep. Anthony Sabatini (R-Howey-in-the-Hills) tweeted about a West Palm Beach LGBT pride event and said he plans to introduce legislation targeting parents who take their children to drag performances.

"I will be proposing legislation to charge (with) a felony (and) terminate the parental rights of any adult who brings a child to these perverted sex shows aimed at (Florida) kids," he wrote. "When will the sexualization of children stop?"

At the time, DeSantis indicated support of the potential legislation, saying that he asked his staff to consider Sabatini's proposal to make it a felony to bring minors to a drag performance, WTSP reported.

When asked about the state lawmaker's comments during a news conference in Fort Myers Beach the governor said, "We have laws against child endangerment."