Federal Judge Blocks Florida’s Anti-Drag Law

June 27, 2023

The ruling is the latest in a series of legal defeats for anti-drag laws.

by Emma Camp Reason.com

On Friday, a federal judge in Florida blocked a law preventing minors from attending drag shows, ruling that the statute violated the First Amendment rights of an Orlando-based restaurant. While attempts at banning or restricting access to drag performances have swept local governments and state legislatures, most have failed to pass legal muster.

In May, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed Senate Bill 1438 into law. The bill prohibited “any person from knowingly admitting a child to an ‘adult live performance.'” Violating the law was a misdemeanor offense, and offending businesses could be fined and have their licenses revoked.