Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida has come under fire for his recent attempt to punish an Orlando performing arts center for hosting a drag queen Christmas show. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation on Friday, February 10, 2023. The complaint states that the drag show, hosted on December 28, 2022, was advertised as “all ages” and that the warning about inappropriate content was “barely visible”.
According to the complaint, the show included sexually explicit songs and dances, which is not explicitly prohibited for children to attend. However, the venue left the decision to the discretion of the parents, with a sign reading “While we are not restricting access to anyone under 18, please be advised some may think the content or context is not appropriate for those under 18.”
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a former Florida legislator, expressed his view on the matter through a tweet. He stated, “This attempt by the DeSantis Administration is nothing but a misuse of regulatory power that can cause severe economic consequences for local businesses.”
Ron DeSantis' formal action to revoke Plaza Live's liquor license for hosting Drag Queen Christmas is an extreme abuse of regulatory power that can have devastating economic consequences for this local business.
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) February 4, 2023
Why can't parents decide what's appropriate for their own kids? pic.twitter.com/rQQQzaruFo
The argument being made by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation is that children under the age of 18 should not be allowed to attend the show due to its sexually explicit content. However, there is no proof that speaking in public is the same as pornographic material. This attempt by the DeSantis Administration has been seen as anti-business and anti-freedom of expression by many, including Carlos Guillermo Smith.
“It’s also ironic that the way that they’ve peddled themselves to be the party of parental rights, but not in this case. That is the parents here don’t have rights to determine…the parents should decide,” said Carlos Guillermo Smith.
The use of regulatory power by the DeSantis Administration has caused many to question their motives. With the upcoming general elections in November 2024, many believe that DeSantis is trying to gain support from the base by taking a stance against the LGBTQ+ community and by promoting the idea of parental rights.
However, the argument being made by the DeSantis Administration is in opposition to the First Amendment and the rights of speech and expression. The focus of the conversation should not be on the drag queen but rather on the larger issue of freedom of expression.
In conclusion, Governor Ron DeSantis’ attempt to punish the Orlando performing arts center for hosting a drag queen Christmas show has caused controversy and criticism. The use of regulatory power to impose restrictions on the arts center is seen as a misuse of power and a threat to freedom of expression. The decision to attend the show should be left to the discretion of the parents, and the focus should be on larger issues such as the protection of the First Amendment and the rights of speech and expression.
