DeSantis Files Complaint Against Philharmonic Orchestra for Drag Event
Potential GOP presidential hopeful, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has filed a complaint against the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra over a drag holiday event it hosted in which minors were allowed to attend the show.
In yet another appeal to the “Trump Base,” in the complaint filed last week, DeSantis’s administration alleges that the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation violated state law in allowing for a person to “commit lewd or lascivious exhibition” in the presence of an individual who is less than 16 years old.
The official complaint from the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco alleges that the foundation hosted a show called “A Drag Queen Christmas” on Dec. 28 and sold alcoholic drinks during it. The complaint, which the Florida-based news outlet The Floridian published a copy of online, said that the foundation used “Christmas-themed promotional materials” that did not give advance notice of the “sexually explicit nature” of the show’s contents.
The materials said, “all ages were welcome.”
The state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco which operates under the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, filed the complaint in its capacity as a regulator of alcohol. It is attempting to revoke the foundation’s liquor license for six alleged counts of violating Florida statutes.
The complaint states that the division sent the foundation a letter ahead of the show warning that “sexually explicit drag show performances constitute public nuisances, lewd activity, and disorderly conduct when minors are in attendance” and the foundation’s license could be “subject to penalties” if it did not “ensure minors could not attend the event.”
The division alleges the foundation responded to the letter by placing a notice at the venue’s entrance that said the show might not be appropriate for people under 18, but it is not restricted. The division said children appearing to be younger than 6 attended the show.
The department announced in late December that it was investigating the show after it received “multiple complaints” about a Dec. 26 performance.
DeSantis previously filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant in July, alleging that it violated a public decency law in allowing children to attend a drag show. He has been among the most prominent voices criticizing children being able to attend the shows, accusing them of trying to “sexualize” youth.
The Orlando foundation’s board of directors released a statement saying the venue seeks to be a “welcoming and inclusive establishment that operates in good faith and compliance with all applicable laws,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
“That includes respecting the rights of parents to decide what content is or is not appropriate for their own children,” the statement added. “…We have just been made aware of this administrative complaint and are working with our legal team to evaluate and respond appropriately.”
Bottom line, the law is the law and those transgressing should face the penalties. Or should they?
“I am the Lizard King. I can do anything.” Jim Morrison
And he did.
In 1969, a bloated drunken bearded disheveled Jim Morrison went to Miami’s Coconut Grove. Drunk, an hour late, he started whipping the crowd like a fat orange-haired demi-god at a rally.
The Key Auditorium held an over capacity crowd, both hot and annoyed. It was better than a January 6th opportunity to incite a riot.
Morrison yelled, taunted, dared; his fans who took to the stage to disrobe. It was 1969, the Age of Aquarius; they even brought a sheep. Morrison ripped off his shirt, dangled it in front of his crotch, portending and pretending he would whip it out.
Uptight sanctimonious Florida officials believed they had to stand up for common decency, there were kids in the crowd. They called for Morrison’s arrest on misdemeanors: public drunkenness, open profanity, and indecent exposure with a felony warrant for lewd and lascivious behavior. They even claimed Morrison simulated fellatio on Robby Krieger.
I’m just a young dude; don’t all rockers do that? Boogaloo dudes?
Floridians were up in arms, they even held protest rallies, got 30,000 at one, they sold beer at them, there were kids.
Morrison turned himself in. He and his band denied all. Numerous witnesses testified same. It was the opening salvo in the new culture war in Florida. It was the establishment against the children of the 60’s. It was the young against old. Age and thinking.
The Doors were impacted financially for the remaining 18 shows, like Disney getting a bum rap for grooming.
The court case dragged on. A year later, Morrison was guilty of open profanity and indecent exposure. Sentenced to six months hard labor, a $500 fine, the old establishment had won, purity was maintained . Or did they? Morrison remained free pending appeal, so, he went to Paris and overdosed instead. Coffin closed. The Lizard King can do what he wants.
Governor Crist pardoned Morrison in 2010 at the end of his term as he was going out the Doors (get it?). In the end, The Doors sold albums because of Florida and Florida was poorer without The Doors. The kids are alright.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Except this time, DeSantctimonious, Meatball Ron as the Trumplites call him, is going after the venue this time, the Orlando Philharmonic is the lurking naked man in the corner. IOW’s the bar is guilty for the drunk. Bigger fish, better press, political points for MR Desantctimonious . Apparently, the venue was showing fake and real naughty bits and exhibiting lewd behaviors. And they were warned, in writing, in advance, more points for MRD, nicely played Madam.
In the end, MRDescanctimonious gets his national political points, the Philharmonic will sell more tickets than ever, and Florida will continue to be on the hard right off the outer edge of the cutting edge of the culture war knife that cuts both ways.
These performer’s actions, if true, are wrong, according to Florida laws as well as laws in many States, even New Jersey. They are also wrong from the professional standpoint of a Drag Show. Ribald yes, frisky, sure — but legal and professional they should be, and often are. However, should it be the show, the venue, or both that are charged? I mean, for example, can we sue Joe Gilbertson for what’s being said here? That’s always a tough question. Ask Alex Jones if you can be sued for what you say. So much for freedom of speech and expression. It does not exist in Florida.
But it is the law that you can’t whip it out. And it’s been that way since the 60’s and before for Florida. If they did it, prosecute it and convict them all. Morrison too. And then let’s get Rhianna for that crotch grabbing half time show where you know children were watching. But let’s be sure to sue the entire NFL, especially Tom Brady, he’s still on payroll till next season I hear……
Just sayin.