The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has responded to reports that children were allowed inside an explicit Christmas drag show, despite the state telling the venue that minors could not be permitted to attend.
The DBPR had sent a letter to the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation on Wednesday, the day of the event, alerting them that they needed to make “A Drag Queen Christmas” 18 plus.
A drag queen “gives birth” in a bizarre explicit performance during a “family-friendly” Drag Queen Christmas event in Orlando, Florida. Children are in the audience. pic.twitter.com/LpJy6oVwWr
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 29, 2022
“It has come to the Department’s attention that you have contracted with Big Time Operator, LLC d/b/a ‘Drag Fans’ to offer the use of your licensed premises to conduct the ‘drag show’ performance,” the department wrote in the letter, explaining that the show contains “exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, simulated sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children’s stories.”
The event, which has been touring the United States, was previously marketed as all-ages.
“Sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance,” the letter continues, explaining that there are “strict penalties for licensees who allow minors to attend these drag shows at their licensed premises.”
The agency warned that it is “your obligation to ensure that minors are prohibited from attending the Drag Fans drag show.”
“If minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future,” the letter concluded.
After noticing MULTIPLE children in the audience at the explicit Drag Queen Christmas in Ft Lauderdale I called out performer Nina West for inviting and allowing children to come to her sexually explicit shows! pic.twitter.com/3XA4qqV0IR
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) December 27, 2022
At least one video, allegedly taken at the event, was posted to social media showing a small child in the crowd.
WATCH: A child is seen in the audience watching sexual drag performances pic.twitter.com/vpl1J3js6f
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 29, 2022
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office told Florida’s Voice that the Department of Business & Professional Regulation will “act accordingly” once its investigation of the drag show is complete.
BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office told Florida’s Voice the Department of Business & Professional Regulation will “act accordingly” once its investigation is complete of the sexual drag show https://t.co/nKBYRml1N1
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) December 29, 2022
Speaking to the Daily Caller, a spokesperson said that “DBPR is actively investigating this matter. As stated in the letter our agency sent yesterday [Wednesday], ‘If minors are allowed to attend this drag show, the Department will take any and all actions available to ensure that you do not pose a threat to minors in the future.'”
“The Department will complete its investigation and act accordingly.”
The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation has not responded to a request for comment.
