Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Wednesday he might ask the Florida Governor to urge the state’s Child Protective Services to investigate parents who drag their children to shows.
The governor was asked by reporters if he would support legislation that would penalize parents who bring their children to such performances in Florida. He said that he had asked his staff to investigate the idea.
The governor stated that there are child protective statutes in place. “We have laws that prevent child endangerment.”
“It used be that kids were off limits. “It used to be everyone agreed with that,” DeSantis said. “It seems that there is a concerted effort now to expose kids to things that aren’t age appropriate.”
After videos of young children tipping the performers with cash and attending a Dallas drag performance, there was a debate about whether minors should have access to drag performances.
“Drag the Kids to Pride Drag Show”, which took place at Mr. Misster gay bar, was described as a “family-friendly spin off” from the bar’s “Champagne Drag Brunch”.
Conservative lawmakers and pundits were not convinced. DeSantis was among those who criticized the bar, pointing out an illuminated sign that said “IT’S NON GONNA LICK ITSSELF”
“This is completely inappropriate. DeSantis stated Wednesday that the video was inappropriate for children. “And so, probably, we might be able to deal with something similar if that happens.”
Representatives of Mr. Misster were not available for comment.
DeSantis’ remarks follow those of Republican firebrands Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colorado) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georg), who both argued that drag shows should not be legal for minors.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson called the footage “grotesque” while accusing parents and performers of “sexualizing kids.” Allie Beth Stuckey is a podcast host with over 357,000 followers on Twitter. She suggested that performers, parents and bar owners should be charged with “sexual abuse of children.”
Florida Rep. Anthony Sabatini tweeted, “I will be proposing Legislation that charges w/a Felony and terminates the parental rights to any adult who brings their child to these perverted sexual shows aimed at FL children.” “When will sexualization of children end?”
Numerous celebrity drag queens responded by slamming Florida and Texas’s proposed measures. They argued that lawmakers were trying to “distract attention” from the lack of new gun laws.
“My thoughts: 1) Our God, a God of love. 2) Parents are the child’s most important role model/teacher. Drag is subjective art. 4) Sir, you have tweeted more about #drag then the #Uvalde loss. Are these tweets really about politics or children? Alyssa Edwards, star of RuPaul’s Drag Race, tweeted Tuesday that #Priorities was being used to refer to the Texas mass shooting that left 19 children dead.
Some critics also claimed that drag shows provide “supportive environments” where LGBTQ youth can express themselves.
Florida Rep. Carlos Smith is a gay Democrat who previously criticized DeSantis’ measures regarding LGBTQ Floridians. He pounced on DeSantis words Wednesday and shared that he and his spouse had hired a drag Queen to perform before children at their wedding.
“Why can’t #DeSantis the tough guy come and arrest us?” Smith tweeted. Smith tweeted, “We’ll wait. Our drag queens aren’t going anywhere! Happy #Pride
DeSantis’ comments come amid heated rhetoric about whether or not children should be taught about LGBTQ issues.
Conservative lawmakers, TV pundits, and other public figures have been accusing opponents of the Florida education law, which has been criticised by some as the “Don’t Say Gay”, of trying to “groom” and “indoctrinate children.” Grooming has been mischaracterized as child sex abusers for many years.
DeSantis mentioned the law, which will be in effect in July at Wednesday’s news conference.
DeSantis stated that part of the reason we fought for parents’ rights and education was because there is a movement to infuse these ideas like gender ideology into elementary schools. My view is that schools should be teaching children to read, write, add and subtract, and to do the things that are expected to be done in school.
The Human Rights Campaign reports that LGBTQ activists are fighting simultaneously against record-breaking numbers of anti-LGBTQ laws introduced in state legislatures this past year. This includes more than 320.
DeSantis’ comments follow Texas legislators who used Texas’ child protection services to pass anti-transgender laws.
Texas Governor. Greg Abbott directed the state’s child welfare office to investigate child abuse allegations against parents who may be providing trans children with gender-affirming care.
The Texas Supreme Court ruled last month in a mixed decision that struck down a statewide order blocking investigations, but also said that Abbott doesn’t have the authority to make them stop.
