Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Florida Drag Show Law
On Friday, US District Judge Gregory A. Presnell issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation from implementing a new law on drag performances, ruling the language is overly vague and threatens free speech.
Facts
- On Friday, US District Judge Gregory A. Presnell issued a preliminary injunction blocking Florida's Dept. of Business and Professional Regulation from implementing a new law on drag performances, ruling the language is overly vague and threatens free speech.1
- Due to his decision, the legislation preventing venues from allowing children to attend live performances that depict or simulate nudity and sexual conduct can no longer be enforced until a food establishment in Orlando finishes litigating its case.2
- In May, Hamburger Mary's, which opened in 2008, filed a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis, the state, and Sec. Melanie Griffin, arguing that Florida's HB 1432 would harm the First Amendment rights of Floridians.3
- The popular restaurant, which had hosted drag performances on Sundays, was required to ban children from all shows to avoid being charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and having its liquor license suspended or revoked.4
- The state's Republican-led legislature passed the bill in April, with DeSantis signing it into law on May 17 amid a flurry of LGBTQ+ legislation over the past months in several red states.5
- Earlier this month, District Judge Robert Hinkle partially blocked Florida from enforcing its ban on minors receiving gender-reassignment procedures and struck down a rule and a statute that banned Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare.6
Sources: 1Business Insider, 2Daily Mail, 3Orlando Sentinel, 4New York Post, 5Forbes, and 6NBC.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by The New Republic. This ruling dealt another blow to the Republicans and far-right activists who have sought to target the LGBTQ+ community and suppress the free speech of drag queen performers. This legislation was so vaguely worded and broad in scope that it could be used even to prevent high schoolers from attending plays like the musical Hair.
- Republican narrative, as provided by Newsmax. This ill-founded decision will surely be appealed as Florida proudly leads the country in standing up for the children and reasserts its goal of being a refuge of sanity. Additionally, the gubernatorial cabinet will continue to support Sec. Griffin, who has been named as a defendant in this case.
