DeSantis Yanks Hyatt Regency Miami’s Liquor License For Hosting Holiday Drag Show With Kids Present
This article contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The state of Florida is revoking the Hyatt Regency Miami’s liquor license after the hotel’s event center hosted a drag queen-themed Christmas show back in December in the presence of minors.
Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a 17-page complaint against the Hyatt Tuesday for violating a state statute that prohibits lewd or lascivious exhibition in front of those 16 years and younger. The complaint alleges that the drag show, hosted at the James L. Knight Center, which is connected to the Hyatt, featured:
performers forcibly penetrating or rubbing their exposed prosthetic female breasts against the faces or oral cavities of audience members; intentionally exposing performers’ prosthetic female breasts and genitalia to the audience; intentionally exposing performers’ buttocks to the audience; simulating masturbation through performers’ digitally penetrating prosthetic female genital; and graphic depictions of childbirth and/or abortion.
The show, titled “A Drag Queen Christmas,” is a Christmas-themed drag spectacle that tours across the country featuring participants from the reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Before the show debuted, the department issued a warning to the Hyatt that it must not admit minors or else risk losing its alcohol license. But the venue still admitted minors as long as they were accompanied by an adult.
“Although Respondent [the Hyatt] updated its advertising to include a disclaimer that the Show was ‘[r]ecommended for audiences 18+,’ Respondent’s admission policies specifically allowed for minor children to attend if ‘accompanied by an adult,’” the complaint reads. “As a result, minors attended and were knowingly admitted into the Show by Respondent, including children appearing less than 16 years of age.”
Florida’s business department is under the authority of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supports the complaint.
“Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law,” DeSantis Press Secretary Bryan Griffin told Business Insider. “Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida.”
This isn’t the first time the DeSantis administration has gone after a business for hosting a drag show with minors present. In July 2022, the Florida government filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant for hosting a drag queen brunch with children present, seeking to revoke its liquor license. Last month, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation for hosting the same Christmas-themed drag show with minors present.
Victoria Marshall is a staff writer at The Federalist. Her writing has been featured in the New York Post, National Review, and Townhall. She graduated from Hillsdale College in May 2021 with a major in politics and a minor in journalism. Follow her on Twitter @vemrshll.
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