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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic for allegedly hosting a drag event.
Ms. DeSantis’ administration complained about the Dec. 28 “A Drag Christmas” event. In a Friday filing, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation accused the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation of exposing minors to performances with a “sexually explicit nature.”
The Republican governor announced last month that the department was investigating the incident. According to documents first made available by The Floridian, the foundation uses “Christmas-themed promotional materials” and welcomes “all ages” to the rally.
Ahead of the event, the administration warned the venue that its license would be subject to fines if it refused to ban children from attending the performance. Some of the children present “appeared to be under the age of six” and alcohol was allegedly sold.
In response to the warning, organizers put up a sign saying that minors were not restricted, “Some may feel the context is inappropriate. [people] Under 18.”
The department accused the performers of “deliberately exposing artificial breasts and genitals, buttocks” and “depicting childbirth and abortion”.
The complaint alleges that the show violated six state laws. The Orlando Philharmonic Foundation has been contacted for independent comment.
In July, the DeSantis administration also filed a state complaint against Miami’s R House, claiming the Wynwood neighborhood restaurant hosted weekend brunches where minors were exposed to “sexually explicit drag shows.”
The bar was charged with disorderly conduct, and the complaint argued that “the nature of the performance … especially when conducted in the presence of young children, corrupts public morals and offends the sense of public decency”, according to The Miami Herald.
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