A 16-second clip showing a toddler in a tiara dancing with a scantily clad drag queen at a Miami establishment has Gov. Ron DeSantis vowing that won’t be allowed in his free state of Florida.
The clip shared on the social media platforms TikTok and Twitter went viral earlier this month and got a mention Wednesday at the Governor’s press conference. He said the establishment, later identified as R House Wynwood, is under investigation through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which may lead to the revocation of its liquor license.
He argued such encounters are part of a disturbing trend that is sexualizing children.
“Having kids involved in this is wrong, that is not consistent with our law and policy in the state of Florida,” he said.
An adult performer in a thong with cash sticking out performs with a young child at the R House Wynwood drag venue and restaurant in Miami for Pride month. pic.twitter.com/4mbi9n2Qgc
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) July 3, 2022
The investigation revealed that not only are children going to the advertised “Drag Brunch,” but there’s a children’s menu, DeSantis said.
”They looked under Florida law, and were able to initiate this procedure that would basically take away the liquor license for that,” DeSantis said.
The owner of the establishment, which Miami New Times awarded “Best Mojito” this year, did not return a call seeking comment. But a spokesperson for R House Wynwood did, and released a statement on behalf of the ownership.
“We are aware of the complaint and are currently working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through our attorney, to rectify the situation,” said Larry Carrino, president of Brustman Carrino PR in Miami in an emailed statement.
“We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis, a vociferous supporter and champion of Florida’s hospitality industry and small businesses, will see this as what it is, a misunderstanding, and that the matter will be resolved positively and promptly.”
Carrino did not respond to a follow up email inquiring about whether the business is currently operating. And Christina Pushaw, the Governor’s spokeswoman, referred questions about the status of the investigation to DBPR. The department responded saying the inquiry was received.
A viral clip from a Dallas Pride Month drag prompted Republican Howey-In-The-Hills Rep. Anthony Sabatini to vow he would file legislation to stop drag shows in the presence of minors. He even called for an “emergency Special Session” on the matter.
In South Florida, drag shows are common enough that Yelp has a listing for the “10 best drag shows” for Wilton Manors. And “age restrictions” aren’t a clickable link, nor are they mentioned on R House Wynwood’s website.
DeSantis said his criticism of the entertainment is part of his fight for Florida to be “where kids can be kids.” That includes efforts to pass the Parental Rights in Education law, which more closely regulates schoolhouse discussions, and measures targeting Disney, which criticized that law.
If there are more of these places where kids are exposed to drag shows, he’s going to take action, he said.
“I think parents, particularly at this time in society’s history, should be able to have their kids go to kindergarten, watch cartoons, just be kids without having some agenda shoved down their throats all the time,” he said. “And that’s what we’re fighting for.”
“People have different views on what they want to do as adults, but it used to be … the kids are off limits,” DeSantis added.
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani noted that no one has targeted heterosexual content like this.
“You can see the same level of skin at the beach too,” Eskamani said.
She recalled going to a belly-dancing show as a child. She gave the dancer a dollar and no one cared.
“So let’s stop deflecting, attacking LGBTQ+ people and focus on solving real problems vs. creating new ones,” Eskamani said.
Anne Geggis is a South Florida journalist who began her career in Vermont and has worked at the Sun-Sentinel, the Daytona Beach News-Journal and the Gainesville Sun covering government issues, health and education. She was a member of the Sun-Sentinel team that won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Parkland high school shooting. You can reach her on Twitter @AnneBoca or by emailing [email protected]
Vote RED for abominable far right filthy filthys..
This is what the leftists want. Look at the four year old lefty that tried to shoo the police in Salt Lake City, UT. How about the lefty in Diapers in Minneapolis cussing at the police. The product of another lefty family where there are no family values. Resisting arrest gives you street cred. That’s what the lefty’s want.
^ Ladies and gentlemen give a round of applause to……. ABOMINABLE GREASY GREASY!!!!!!!
How foolish. Not Hooters, not Twin Peaks… Not the church where we know priests have had a long history of indoctrinating kids… but a drag show… parents already have the power to not go… so don’t make the decision for parents… especially with hate in your hearts. The insecurity on the right when it comes to different groups is disgusting… that four year old probably watched a clip of Tucker laughing at a January Sixth Law Enforcement offer get beat to death… and decided it was funny.
Middle nothing. That’s all you find in the middle of the road, is dead skunks.
Liar, pathetic, no police officer was beat to death, but a veteran was shot to death and killed, you lap dog.
You obviously are aware of seedy establishments. They are loosely licensed rests. If they engage in tawdry or unlawful behavior, they are susceptible to losing license.
As for drag shows, children are not to be victimized as minors. At church or elsewhere. Bars are off limits to minors, even if it serves food.
So save your filth and hate. It is despicable that you and your Manchurian nation defend this filth.
Board it up, pull license and shut it down. Oh engage in your lewd behavior in some private quarters. Despicable.
Your AIDS medication and your crack cocaine are causing you to make even less sense than you normally do. Shutty uppy!?
THE FREEDUMB STATE OF FLORIDA’S MORALITY POLICE!
Vote DeSantis and all Republicans out of office!
Yup. The squad, Newsom, Hank Johnson, Jerry Nadler, Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters. Real geniuses on the “BLUE” side. I could go on.
Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert, Gaetz , and a long list of fools…. Should I go on?
Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis.
Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis
Why is the comment being deleted Gaetz, Greene, Cawthorn, Boebert…. Should I continue?. Freedom only if you agree with DeSantis
Warren, AOC, Sanders, mullah Omar, Tjlab, and several other extremists own and out perform Repubs. Nola contedre ! U pathetic Manchurians own it!
Newsom/Sanders 2024! Trump will be indicted soon…and you pro crime sociopaths will be annihilated by the Army next time you pull a J6 super massive terrorist attack.
Ex potus 45 will be indicted after degenerate son, Hunter will be indicted, convicted, sentenced and served. Full of shit moron Elliot, idiot! Call Soros.
Looked strip joint to me
What a tight-ass reaction to something was forgettable for the child. Save us from prissy politicians.
When yer on the side of trannys parading naked in front of toddlers, you really should reevaluate your position. Course that was probably you in the tranny outfit…
^ Abominable far right sub-ape. Rather parade with trannys than this guy..and of course rated XXX Donald Trump.
OF COURSE you’d rather parade with trannys. Yer an anti-American groomer. It’s not enough that you are perverted, you have to drag the children into your perversion…
Bet you didn’t have a single word of condemnation when Trump’s “Grab em by the pussy” tape went public…
Close all the beaches! Kids might see a boob or a butt in a bikini or thong. Actually, all women must be completely covered at the beach or DeSantis will arrest you for sexualizing kids.
Mind you… Republicans have cultivated Florida Society for the last 30 years and now create solutions to problems that don’t exist to take away from the homeowners insurance crisis.
Rather kids parade with trannys than neo nazis, anti-government terrorists, violent and stupid rednecks, and other Republican hog grifters….
The free state of Florida brought to you by Der Dwarf
Has he ever watched Toddlers and Tiaras? Talk about sexualizing children….will he have that show and those moms investigated?
All those poor little girls from primarily red states prancing around like hookers and I bet these people don’t have a single thing to say about that. Hypocrisy thy name is Republican…
whoever the girl’s parent(s) are allowed this. The girl is not in any kind of distress and Florida restricting this may be a violation of free speech. By this same token people like J Lo and other celebrities go “bare” far worse than this and is in the media, and people wearing scanty clothing at beaches should also be banned?
This behavior seems a little strange to me!
Pull the license, board the rest and filth and scum up! You pathetic Manchurians are decrepit in mind and spirit.
We have laws, you cannot wait on or serve children in bars. Drag shows not lawful for minors. Exploiting children sexually is a crime! You disgusting 5 percenters can vote for the immoral gov candidates! Go to hell!
Thank God for Gov Kahones!
If you see anything sexual in this, YOU are a PERVERT.
Just look at the people having lunch there, no orgies going on, nothing for ron to get ALL EXCITED over, or drip spit on his tie about.
The place is a respected RESTAURANT with great reviews, what appears to be good food, and even featured on stodgy NBC tee-vee as a place to have brunch and watch a funny drag show. It’s not an “adult” place, and it’s not a bar. Look at their website. Don’t just fall for PERVERT RON’s manipulating moRONacy.
Shut the fuck up, you Bitch! They don’t get to invent own rules. You and the rest of the Manchurians are the ones of hate. Check the web, yeah they’ll promote the orgies on the web. You dumb ass
My…so hostile! Bet you didn’t have a single word of condemnation when Trump’s “Grab em by the pussy” tape went public, did you?
Trump actually said “when you are rich, women [such as you you mindless twit] LET YOU grab ’em by the [hoohah].” And he is not incorrect.
It’s rather simple here in FL. We have laws. One law is that children are not allowed in bars. You are just excusing them because you are a groomer too, ain’t ya!?
As if he weren’t speaking about himself lol You people will turn yourselves inside out to make excuses for Trump, along with other perverts, pedophiles, murderers and every other kind of human garbage. You’re not even capable of debating something without resorting to ad hominem attacks. That’s a strong indicator of low IQ and low interpersonal intelligence. No wonder you shill for the most morally corrupt con artist this country has ever produced. You’re just not very bright…
Actually, it looks like a RESTAURANT WITH a bar, kind of like all those other restaurants with bars where parents and kids have lunch or dinner.
Who’s grooming–and for what? You can’t really believe this desantis grooming distraction!?!
A skank who is sticking up for perverts dancing nearly nude in front of small children is lecturing me on something Trump said. Then the idiot goes on to lecture me about “ad hominem attacks” as she attacks my intelligence. Go back to your crack babies from several different baby daddies.
Quit trying to make women feel like there is something shameful about their bodies, trans or otherwise.
That dancer was not behaving in a sexual manner. If you had some kind of…..response….. to her, don’t be like the rapist who cries “look how she was dressed!” No more big Scarlet A’s on women you are attracted to, but can’t have.
And, please, ron & the rest, stop projecting your perversions onto other people.
This behavior is why you have so much free time, Legend. This is why you can’t get a girlfriend, and have to spend all day & all night insulting your intellectual and moral superiors on FP ….Life of celibacy for tommie
Somebody’s been watching too many dirty movies
I personally wouldn’t take my small child to a drag show but it’s also not the end of the world. Kids are exposed to far worse in video games like GTA and CoD. But all of that aside, what happened to DeSantis’ battle cries for parental rights? Shouldn’t this ultimately be a parent’s decision? Or is the government now deciding how we will raise our children? Ron DeSantis’ alleged “free” state of Florida is nothing more than marketing nonsense…particularly when the nanny state government wants to legislate every parenting decision.
NO, you mindless fool, some things are NOT simply the parent’s decision. Want me to allow my kids to play with guns? Or play in the streets? Or even make kiddie porn? We have laws in the books, and have for probably decades, that kids can’t go to bars, no matter what their ignorant parents may wish. God please tell me that you haven’t procreated, because you are dumb as dirt.
I have procreated, and not with my sibling, like I suspect your parents did. My kids are college graduates with excellent careers, no student loan debt thanks to full scholarships and are active members of our church. Basically, they’re intelligent, kind, successful contributing members of society. Bet yours are working a corner in Methville, FL lol
Suuuuuuure. Any man dumb enough to stick his Schiff in you has earned my pity…
Go practice that stick thing on yourself
LMAO Great one Garry cooper, I mean John Doe. Hysterical. Mary who is filth.
Go hang with naughty Nikki fraud. Ask Gov Cuomo, the love guv to bend over. Ask him to grab some P, thighs, ass and breasts. U r a sick one Mary lou. To bad your mommy did abort you,, you love abortion so much. Or sell you as a sex slave. Find an illegal.
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