Florida bill defines drag shows as ‘serious danger to public health & safety’ for kids

[Momto2boys973]

I guess we’ll also agree to disagree. Exposing children to strong sexual contact at early ages is detrimental, there are many studies to back that up.

A strip club would fall into the X-rated category where minors aren't allowed at all. I don't know any strip clubs that currently allow minors in. So that issue is already being taken care of.

But you were talking about live shows that contain "sexually suggestive behaviors". To me, that's like an R-rated movie. And by law, theaters can allow minors into R-rated movies if the parent is present. So my question to you is, do you think that the law for live shows should be more strict than the law for movie theaters? Because that's what it seems like you are advocating for. What's wrong with letting the parents decide when a show (live or film) is R-rated? You can still decide your own limits for your own children. Why not let everyone else decide for theirs?

Here's another piece for thought. DH and I are involved in our community theater. The last show we put on had some scenes where the adults on stage were talking about S*x. One line in particular that I remember was one guy said about his ex-wife "We used to have S*x 2, 3, even 4 times a month." (Said as if that's a lot, hence the humor in the show.) There were no physical actions suggesting S*x (the most physical thing was a kiss) and there was certainly no removing of clothing. Just conversation. One mom in attendance decided that conversation was too adult for her 10yo son and so she removed him. Other people had their same-aged kids in attendance and they had no problem with it. And that's the thing. There was nothing wrong with the one mom removing her child. Her right to do so. There was also nothing wrong with other parents allowing their children to remain.

But just because one mom had issues with it for her child doesn't mean we try to ban any entertainment with any conversation about S*x from every child out there. She gets to choose for her own child. She doesn't get to choose for every other child out there. And that's what this Florida laws seems like it's trying to do - taking the stance of a minority of parents and making that choice for every single child out there.

Let parents choose for their own children.

Well, I said before that I actually do believe that movie theaters shouldn’t sell R rated tickets to minors, even with parental consent. And I know many don’t. Just as stores don’t sell alcohol to kids even with adult consent. As far as I know, children aren’t allowed in strip clubs, even with parental consent. But, as you said, they can watch a strip club scene in a movie if their parents allow it, can’t they? So are you suggesting that kids should be allowed in strip clubs? I hope not.
As I said, there is a line. Not everything goes just because I’m my kids’ mother. Some things don’t fall into my parental rights. And yet, I do retain parental rights to expose them to certain things when I see fit. It’s a fine line, probably, I won’t deny it, and mine isn’t the absolute right one. But I don’t think this law crosses that line.

So what are you suggesting in the realm of live shows, whether drag or not? Are you suggesting a rating system similar to movies? Because your phrase below of "contains sexually suggestive behaviors and attitudes" I think pretty clearly describes an R-rated movie. And last I checked minors are allowed to attend/watch R-rated movies with parental consent. So why can't "R-rated" drag shows be treated the same? - Let the parents decide.

And if we are talking about "X-rated" drag shows, I'm pretty damn sure any shows that would fall into the category of "X-rated" are already not allowing anyone below the age of 18.

So what already exists is R-rated and below = parental choice, X-rated and above = adults only. So then what exactly is this Florida law trying to accomplish that doesn't already exist? And what benefit would there be?

[MonarchMom]

This bill has zero to do with "protecting" children. It is an attempt to make transgender existence illegal.

[Momto2boys973]

Where does the bill mention transgenderism? Because the title of the post is misleading. The bill isn’t describing transgenderism at all.

“ HB 1423: Protection of Children
GENERAL BILL by Fine ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Plakon ; Sirois

Protection of Children; Authorizes DBPR to fine, suspend, or revoke license of any public lodging establishment or public food service establishment that admits child to adult live performance; specifies that violation constitutes immediate, serious danger to public health, safety, or welfare; authorizes fines for first, second, & subsequent violations of certain provisions; specifies that DBPR may revoke or suspend license of person found to be maintaining licensed premises that admits child to adult live performance; prohibits raising of specified arguments as defense in prosecution for certain violations; prohibits person from knowingly admitting child to an adult live performance.”

This bill has zero to do with "protecting" children. It is an attempt to make transgender existence illegal.

[SouthernIslander]

Just to make sure I am clear…

Based on this bill, if a restaurant hosted a drag Queen show where the participants are impersonating celebrities wearing ballroom gowns.

Would that be considered illegal and the business can lose their license?

I get both sides of the debate but I wasn’t sure if it’s drag shows in general or drag shows with adult content.

[Momto2boys973]

That’s the thing: No.
The bill is talking about live shows that have a strong sexual content and therefore considered “adult live performances”. This has nothing to do with transgenderism, but because the bill was a response to a drag show that announced itself as a family event and yet had strong sexual content, progressives are making it about that. But this show was also banned for kids in Missouri, also had backlash in Tennessee and in Texas. This isn’t a Floridian war against transgenderism.

Just to make sure I am clear…

Based on this bill, if a restaurant hosted a drag Queen show where the participants are impersonating celebrities wearing ballroom gowns.

Would that be considered illegal and the business can lose their license?

I get both sides of the debate but I wasn’t sure if it’s drag shows in general or drag shows with adult content.

[Deleted User 1990]

There's nothing in the bill about people dressed as the opposite gender... There's plenty of truly culturally relevant shows where that happens like Japanese Kabuki, that's all still fine...


Its the sexually explicit shows that aren't allowed to have kids there.

Just to make sure I am clear…

Based on this bill, if a restaurant hosted a drag Queen show where the participants are impersonating celebrities wearing ballroom gowns.

Would that be considered illegal and the business can lose their license?

I get both sides of the debate but I wasn’t sure if it’s drag shows in general or drag shows with adult content.

[SallyMae]

So you also think that children should be allowed in strip clubs and any other adult oriented entertainment venue? Ok, gotcha. I guess we’ll agree to disagree then.

No, what you describe is a lot more like a National Lampoon movie than a porno. But at least you agree to disagree. That is not what this Florida bill is doing. Parents currently have the right to decide if their kids can see R rated entertainment and they are trying to take that away.

[WellPreserved]

"DBPR, which regulates alcohol sales in Florida and has its own sworn cops, says it has the authority to strip liquor licenses from venues that violate state law. DeSantis himself has said the goal is to financially hurt venues that allow children to see drag."

https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/ ... 162548002/

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politi ... 47175.html

[Traci_Momof2]

You didn't really answer my question. If a live show is essentially R-rated (NOT X), do you think the law should prevent any minors from attending that show. And do you think the same law should be created for R-rated films?
And I'm talking an actual law, not just your opinion of what's right and wrong. Should we have laws completely excluding minors from R-rated content?

I guess we’ll also agree to disagree. Exposing children to strong sexual contact at early ages is detrimental, there are many studies to back that up.

A strip club would fall into the X-rated category where minors aren't allowed at all. I don't know any strip clubs that currently allow minors in. So that issue is already being taken care of.

But you were talking about live shows that contain "sexually suggestive behaviors". To me, that's like an R-rated movie. And by law, theaters can allow minors into R-rated movies if the parent is present. So my question to you is, do you think that the law for live shows should be more strict than the law for movie theaters? Because that's what it seems like you are advocating for. What's wrong with letting the parents decide when a show (live or film) is R-rated? You can still decide your own limits for your own children. Why not let everyone else decide for theirs?

Here's another piece for thought. DH and I are involved in our community theater. The last show we put on had some scenes where the adults on stage were talking about S*x. One line in particular that I remember was one guy said about his ex-wife "We used to have S*x 2, 3, even 4 times a month." (Said as if that's a lot, hence the humor in the show.) There were no physical actions suggesting S*x (the most physical thing was a kiss) and there was certainly no removing of clothing. Just conversation. One mom in attendance decided that conversation was too adult for her 10yo son and so she removed him. Other people had their same-aged kids in attendance and they had no problem with it. And that's the thing. There was nothing wrong with the one mom removing her child. Her right to do so. There was also nothing wrong with other parents allowing their children to remain.

But just because one mom had issues with it for her child doesn't mean we try to ban any entertainment with any conversation about S*x from every child out there. She gets to choose for her own child. She doesn't get to choose for every other child out there. And that's what this Florida laws seems like it's trying to do - taking the stance of a minority of parents and making that choice for every single child out there.

Let parents choose for their own children.

Well, I said before that I actually do believe that movie theaters shouldn’t sell R rated tickets to minors, even with parental consent. And I know many don’t. Just as stores don’t sell alcohol to kids even with adult consent. As far as I know, children aren’t allowed in strip clubs, even with parental consent. But, as you said, they can watch a strip club scene in a movie if their parents allow it, can’t they? So are you suggesting that kids should be allowed in strip clubs? I hope not.
As I said, there is a line. Not everything goes just because I’m my kids’ mother. Some things don’t fall into my parental rights. And yet, I do retain parental rights to expose them to certain things when I see fit. It’s a fine line, probably, I won’t deny it, and mine isn’t the absolute right one. But I don’t think this law crosses that line.

[WellPreserved]

Things I had no problem with my kids being exposed to:
Nudity, sexual innuendos, sexual content, drag shows, burlesque, overtly sexual movies, subliminally sexual movies, anime, Gay Price parades, Mardi Gras parades, theater, music (those with sexually explicit and those without), basically any kind of performance art, music festivals.

Things I didn't allow my kids to be exposed to:
Gun shows, certain evangelical services, some political rallies, screened R-rated films that had violence, books that were violent, community events that had the likelihood of being violent, films depicting animal violence to include shooting and skinning of animals, shows that depicted violence against a particular group of people unless it was show in a sympathetic way, movies involving in occult.

The above are short lists because like most people, my list is pretty long. Sure, I'm a "liberal" but that doesn't somehow mean that my values or how I raise my children is so far removed from those who are conservative. I would not expect that anyone, including conservatives, deny their children access to those things and events that make me feel uncomfortable than those conservatives should deny my kids to those things that I'm comfortable with.

The drag event in Florida was not billed as a "family friendly" event yet three or less families decided to allow their children to attend. So what? Hundreds if not thousands of families let their children eat at "Hooters" every day and yet while we might roll our eyes, we don't ban Hooters. Collectively, we allow parents to make their own decisions for their children. Florida has decided to take that decision making away from parents. This should make everyone concerned, not just liberals but it seems as if conservatives are okay with it as long as it gets the drag queens.