Appeals Court Upholds Block On FL Drag Shows Ban
The Huffington Post reports:
A ban on minors attending family-friendly drag shows in Florida was halted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Tuesday after judges ruled 2-1 that it violated the First Amendment.
The ruling marks a major victory for Hamburger Mary’s of Orlando, a restaurant in the Sunshine State that offers food and entertainment, including drag performances — and specifically family-friendly drag shows on Sundays — to its patrons.
The restaurant sued in 2023 after the Florida Senate passed SB 1438. The law purported to focus on the “protection of children” from obscenity by criminally penalizing businesses that permitted a child into an “adult live performance.” Anyone found in violation of the law would be charged with a misdemeanor.
Read the full article.
SB 1438 was authored by far-right then-state Sen. Randy Fine [photo], who is now a member of the US House.
Earlier this week the Florida city of Naples lost its attempt to ban a Pride Month drag show in a city park. The Liberty Counsel supported Naples in court with amicus briefs.
11th Cir., 2-1, holds that Florida’s anti-drag law likely violates the First Amendment because it restricts protected speech for both minors and adults.
Court upholds an injunction preventing Florida from enforcing the ban on drag performances.
media.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub…
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor.bsky.social) May 13, 2025 at 11:20 AM
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