MIAMI (AP) 鈥 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration is moving to revoke the liquor license of a Miami hotel that hosted a Christmas drag show, a crackdown that comes as the Republican governor looks to shore up his conservative credentials ahead of an expected 2024 presidential bid.
The state鈥檚 Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed an administrative complaint earlier this week against the Hyatt Regency Miami for hosting the Christmas-themed show. It alleged that the performance was 鈥渟exually explicit" and that children were present for the 鈥渓ewd, vulgar and indecent鈥 display.
The Hyatt Regency Miami said the programming and ticketing at the venue were managed by a third party and the hotel鈥檚 role was to serve food and beverages. Amir Blattner, the hotel鈥檚 general manager, said the liquor license remains active as the complaint is being reviewed.
The producers of the drag show didn鈥檛 immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment Thursday.
DeSantis has filed similar complaints against other venues hosting drag shows in the past. He is known for his aggressive defense of conservative causes and has marketed his administration for strong Republican leadership as he considers a challenge to former President Donald Trump in 2024.
The complaint says the state warned the hotel ahead of the Dec. 27 performance to stop children from attending, but the hotel only made it a recommendation and allowed minors who went with adults, the complaint says. It also alleged that performers simulated sex acts and exposed 鈥減rosthetic female breasts."
DeSantis has championed other landmark conservative priorities that his critics have dismissed as anti-LGBTQ, including that bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.
鈥淕overnor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida,鈥 the Republican governor鈥檚 office said in a statement regarding the hotel鈥檚 liquor license.
On Tuesday, Florida Republicans that expands on the controversial law that critics dubbed the 鈥淒on't Say Gay鈥 bill. The new bill would bar school lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity through the eighth grade. It would also ban school requirements on use of pronouns that don't correspond to the person鈥檚 sex at birth.
Another bill would restrict venues from allowing children to attend drag shows if they have sexual content.
