Where I'm from, the night life is a lot more dangerous in rural areas because law enforcement is basically mayberry police, so venues don't follow basic safety protocols or crowd control. I went to a dinner back home last year at a restaurant that turns into a club atmosphere around midnight and there was a 3-year-old dancing with and like a stripper. I only partied in populated areas in other states but I have seen some ridiculous shit in rural Mississippi.WellPreserved wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 9:13 pmOh I hear you. I live in a small town with lots of bars (nothing billed as a nightclub). Some are child friendly and some are definitely not! Hell, there's one that I wouldn't go to as a woman. I can't imagine a local taking their children there but I'm sure it's happened. I think a visitor would turn around and walk out pretty quickly if they had kids with them.SouthernIslander wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:23 pmI agree. I asked for clarification because this is written in a way that targets transgenders and that serves no purpose other than putting a target on their back because extremists love to find loopholes in the law to harass people.WellPreserved wrote: ↑Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:59 pm
I agree with most of what you stated and despite being generally okay with my kids seeing shows and films with sexual content when they were younger, I do find the content of the show posted as inappropriate for children. This was an event that was promoted as an "R rated" event, not recommended for children, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult but still out of 100s of attendees, several brought their children. DeSantis is trying basically trying to change the definition of adult entertainment (X-rated) when it comes specifically to Drag Shows and I think it's disingenuous for some to claim not all drag shows. With this Bill, venues, not performers or organizers, will be fined and with the vagueness of language in the Bill, what venue will host any drag show?
My other problem is DeSantis is basically saying that parents should not be trusted when it comes to their children (specifically drag shows) so Florida will step in and make those decisions for them. I find this a super slippery slope and while DeSantis can argue all day long that he for "parental rights" this ain't it.
I agree that children exposed to erotica can be harming to their mental health but wonder why DeSantis isn't changing rating for any other kind of entertainment or medium and making exceptions for certain live performances - "taken as a whole is without serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present?" So raunchy Shakespeare is okay but rauncy drag queens isn't? Where would Madonna masturbating on stage fall on the "raunchy" spectrum or on the artistic spectrum? That is what I mean about vague language.
I've been to a number of drag shows, some kid friendly and some not and the ones that weren't kid friendly got really bawdy, lol. But in almost all the drag shows I've been to, many of the performers were wearing prosthetic breasts so this language in the Bill also concerned me: "lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genital or breasts." Lewdness is really subjective and what about breasts that aren't prosthetic? Yup, this is targeting drag shows.
Also, if he is so concerned with protecting children's health and safety, why isn't there equal conversation around guns and violence which harms far more children than drag shows?
Yes, the double standard is ridiculous. No, I would not take a child to a gay bar but between fighting, shooting and wondering hands...I absolutely would NOT take a child to a night club full of pissy drunk straight men. A lot of straight clubs in rural areas don't even check ID and it has resulted in deadly or abusive consequences for minors.
So why no mention of this? No, kids shouldn't be exposed to sexual content, but southern night life has bigger problems that are a lot more urgent than drags shows.
I was at an office event this evening and it got me thinking - too much idle time on my hands! I don't know about Florida or Texas, but here in Virginia I fill out about 30 event permit applications a year. All are focused on what if any kind of alcohol will be served, how will we keep under aged from drinking, and food safety. I've never had a permit application ask what kind of entertainment. Just wondering why Hyatt Regency was liable and not the event promoters and also wondering if event licenses in Florida are now also to include content of show?
Just wanted to add that one of our towns BEST annual events is a fundraiser Mardi Gras Party held at our local "road house" to benefit a private elementary school. Sit down Cajun dinner, multiple stages of music, dancing, costumes, and a drag show. Alcohol is served and our off duty police offer shuttle service so inebriated guests don't drive. It's child friendly and my son has attended every year since he was 11. I've filled out permits for that and never had to mention what bands were playing, what music would be played, or the fact that there was a drag show. Just how alcohol would be served, capacity, etc.
https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life ... c91d8.html
^^^^ That has been my experience as well. We use to host events and book shows all the time but nitpicking over entertainment was not a part of the red tape.
LGBT community in NOLA has a beautiful and insanely fun culture. I am glad you guys got to experience that and it is a fun way to educate young kids on the LGBT culture in New Orleans. You barely cuss, so I already know the event was age appropriate. LOL!