RIVERVIEW, FLORIDA — An LGBTQ youth event next week that promoted cross-dressing men to minors as young as 14 is now calling off the drag performance after the Florida Legislature passed the Protection of Children Act.
An “LGBTQ+ Youth Pride Prom” on May 5 that promoted performances from drag queens has opted against hosting the cross-dressing men at the event.
The Protection of Children Act – which will become law upon receiving DeSantis’ signature – would make it illegal to knowingly permit minors into “adult live performances,” such as drag shows. Over 300 LGBTQ activists protested the bill at the Florida Capitol on Tuesday.
ORGANIZERS PIVOT
The event is hosted by St. Pete Pride and PFLAG Riverview. Founded in 1973, PFLAG claims to be the the nation's first and largest LGBTQ advocacy organization – the acronym is short for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
PFLAG Riverview President Faith Moeller told The Florida Standard that the event will no longer feature drag performers. Moeller said she was “very sad” to make the change.
“The three artists performed last year at our prom as characters from Alice in Wonderland,” she wrote in an email. “They were fully dressed in costumes. There was nothing sexual or inappropriate in their performances.”
The performers whose names have now been removed from the event flier online are “Brianna Summers,” “Charlotte Diamond Star” and “92 Era Lords.” Summers and Star have social media pages to promote their cross-dressing shows.
PFLAG Riverview’s Facebook includes photos of past events with cross-dressing men and children, including a drag bingo night and the Metro Tampa LGBTQ Youth Summit.
LGBTQ EVENTS CALLING AUDIBLES
The prom is not the first LGBTQ event impacted by the Protection of Children Act.
Last week, Port St. Lucie “Pride” added a 21+ age restriction to its annual LGBTQ festival and canceled the parade in anticipation of the governor signing the bill.
