Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) administration has revoked the liquor license of the Hyatt Regency Miami for hosting a Christmas-themed drag show with minors present in the audience.
According to Insider, the event—A Drag Queen Christmas— featuring stars from ‘Rupaul’s Drag Race’ was held on Dec. 27 at the James L. Knight Center, which is affiliated with the hotel. People under 18 were required to be accompanied by an adult.
On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a complaint against the venue and accused the hotel of violating state law by allowing a “sexually explicit show with children present.”
The complaint alleged performers wore “sexually suggestive clothing and prosthetic female genitalia” engaged in “simulated sexual activity” and “lewd, vulgar, and indecent acts,” while minors were in the audience.
The hotel “authorized, permitted, and maintained the show to occur on its Licensed Premises, and, as a direct result of its admissions policies, knowingly exposed minor children to the conduct alleged herein,” the Department wrote in the complaint.
Bryan Griffin, DeSantis’ press secretary supports the decision to revoke Hyatt’s liquor license. He told Insider: “Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law. Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida.”
Brandon Wolf, the spokesperson for Equality Florida accused DeSantis of “weaponizing” state agencies against businesses to target drag performances “in his quest to manufacture right wing hysteria that he can monetize.”
Hyatt Regency Miami has 21 days to request a hearing.
