On March 14th, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed a complaint against the Hyatt Regency Miami for hosting a “sexually explicit show” in December 2022, which featured minors in attendance.[0] The show, titled “A Drag Queen Christmas,” was a holiday-themed drag spectacle that toured around the country, featuring participants from the reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”[1]
The department had issued a warning to the hotel in advance, advising them not to admit minors or face sanctions, including an alcohol license revocation. Despite the warning, the hotel still allowed children to attend the show if accompanied by an adult. The complaint alleges “children appearing less than 16 years of age were knowingly admitted into the show” by the hotel.[2]
The department’s complaint also stated that the show featured “perverted versions of popular children’s Christmas songs” including an adaptation of “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” which contained a “portrayal of oral fellatio” and another song entitled “Screwdolph the Red-Nippled Reindeer” which had lyrics such as “You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen Vomit and Stupid and Dildo and D***s-in…” and “Then one soggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say ‘Screwdolph with your nipples so bright won’t you guide my sleigh tonight.”[3]
Beth Pannell, spokeswoman for the department, said that the Hyatt has 21 days to request a hearing and can keep selling alcohol until a final decision is made.[4] Governor Ron DeSantis’s office released a statement saying that “sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law.[0] Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida.[5]
0. “DeSantis strips luxurious Florida hotel’s liquor license after hosting ‘lewd’ drag show with children present” Yahoo News, 14 Mar. 2023, https://news.yahoo.com/desantis-strips-luxurious-florida-hotels-171849913.html
1. “Complaints of drag show at James L. Knight Center threatens host hotel’s liquor license” WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale, 14 Mar. 2023, https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-dade/complaints-of-drag-show-at-james-l-knight-center-threatens-host-hotels-liquor-license/
2. “Florida Yanks Hyatt’s Liquor Permit For Hosting Kids At Drag Show” The Federalist, 14 Mar. 2023, https://thefederalist.com/2023/03/14/desantis-yanks-hyatt-regency-miamis-liquor-license-for-hosting-holiday-drag-show-with-kids-present/
3. “State cracks down on Miami venue for hosting ‘Drag Queen Christmas'” South Florida Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2023, https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-ne-drag-show-crackdown-miami-20230315-2hndvyaiyzhrtdlh6hlwtxq2lm-story.html
4. “Florida Moves To Revoke Hotel’s Liquor License Over Christmas Drag Show” Yahoo! Voices, 14 Mar. 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/florida-moves-revoke-hotels-liquor-224846874.html
5. “DeSantis administration revokes Hyatt Regency Miami alcohol license after it hosted “A Drag Queen Christmas”” Yahoo Movies Canada, 14 Mar. 2023, https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/desantis-administration-revokes-hyatt-regency-165437400.html
