Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant and bar this week for reportedly exposing children to what the governor called “sexually explicit drag shows.” Now the establishment faces the prospect of losing its liquor license.
At issue is a series of weekend drag show brunches hosted by R House restaurant in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation filed the complaint after a video of one of the drag events surfaced and was shared by the account Libs of TikTok. Now R House stands accused of violating provisions in state law targeting public nuisances, lewd activity, disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, according to the complaint, the Naples Daily News said.
The complaint notes that the video shows a dancer with breasts covered with only pasties, bare buttocks, and dollar bills hanging from a g-string parading a young girl around the restaurant. Following the video’s posting, investigators made multiple trips to R House to document other drag events involving children.
“The nature of the performances described above, particularly when conducted in the presence of young children, corrupts the public morals and outrages the sense of public decency,” the complaint says.
In a press conference about the complaint, DeSantis said of the drag shows that, after seeing the video, “we said wait a minute, having kids involved in this is wrong.”
“That is not consistent with our law and policy in the state of Florida and it is a disturbing trend in our society to try to sexualize these young people,” he continued. “That is not the way you look out for our children, you protect children, you do not expose them to things that are inappropriate.”
In a statement responding to the complaint, R House’s ownership called the whole thing a “misunderstanding.”
“We are aware of the complaint and are currently working with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, through our attorney, to rectify the situation,” they said. “We are hopeful that Gov. DeSantis, a vociferous supporter and champion of Florida’s hospitality industry and small businesses, will see this as what it is, a misunderstanding, and that the matter will be resolved positively and promptly.”
