DeSantis seeks to revoke alcohol license for Miami Hyatt over drag occasion

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is shifting to revoke the liquor license for the Hyatt Regency Miami over a drag occasion the resort hosted in December known as “A Drag Queen Christmas,” which a criticism alleges admitted youngsters to the “lewd” and “vulgar” occasion. 

Regulators within the state mentioned they’d warned the Hyatt Regency Miami that if it failed to make sure that minors had been prohibited from the efficiency, its liquor license may very well be rescinded, in keeping with a criticism from Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation that was posted by the Miami Herald and different publications. 

The admission coverage for the occasion allowed youngsters beneath 18 to be admitted with an grownup, and the criticism alleges that “children appearing less than 16 years of age” attended this system, which it claims included “performers … wearing sexually suggestive clothing and prosthetic female genitalia.” 

DeSantis has beforehand focused drag exhibits, in addition to the LGBTQ neighborhood, with legal guidelines such because the state’s controversial Parental Rights in Education invoice, also referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” regulation. That regulation restricts academics and college districts from discussing gender identification and subjects surrounding sexuality within the classroom from kindergarten by way of the third grade. 

“Perverted” Christmas songs

The Hyatt Regency drag present allegedly “contained sexually explicit themes and prurient content presented through perverted versions of popular children’s Christmas songs,” the criticism alleges, citing the track “Screwdolph the Red-Nippled Reindeer.”

Sexually express content material is not acceptable for youngsters and “violates Florida law,” DeSantis’ workplace advised CBS News Miami. “Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida.”

In an announcement to CBS MoneyWatch, Hyatt mentioned the resort’s liquor license stays legitimate. The present was held on the James L. Knight Center on the Hyatt Regency Miami, and the middle is managed by a third-party operator, the resort mentioned. It added that it’s the meals and beverage concessionaire on the middle.

“We are reviewing this complaint and will address the situation directly with the state’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation as part of administrative review process,” Hyatt added.