On Tuesday, Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced that it would launch an investigation into a performing arts center that hosted a drag show targeted towards little children.
As reported by the Daily Caller, the investigation is focusing on the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale, which hosted the “Drag Queen Christmas” event the day after Christmas; advertisements for the event have since been removed from the center’s website, but archived versions remain available on the Internet.
“This is an all-ages show but may contain adult content,” says the archived version of the website post.
In response, the DBPR said that it would begin investigating the “sexually explicit” display that was “marketed to children.”
“The Department is actively investigating this matter, including video footage and photographs from the event,” the statement reads in part. “DBPR will, like in other cases, take action.”
“Exposing children to sexually explicit activity is a crime in Florida,” the statement continues. “The Department will share any collected evidence with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) for potential criminal liability. The Department frequently conducts investigations into these matters upon tips provided by the public, and we thank the public for continuing to bring attention to these incidents. Investigations of such allegations will remain a priority for the Department and, indeed, are ongoing.”
“A Drag Queen Christmas” is a nationwide tour featuring grown men, who are often gay, dressed as women, wearing revealing clothing, and acting out sex scenes. It has previously performed in such cities as Dallas, Texas, and is set to conclude its tour on December 29th in the Florida cities of Miami, Orlando, and Clearwater.