Florida revokes Miami hotel's liquor license for hosting drag queen event 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is planning to strip a major luxury Miami hotel of its liquor license after it hosted a Christmas-themed drag show with children present. 

The Hyatt Regency hotel in Miami had been warned by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation against hosting a “sexually explicit show with children present.” However, the hotel ignored the warning and hosted “A Drag Queen Christmas” in December, according to a statement from DeSantis’ office. 

"Therefore, the Department is revoking the venue’s license for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages," the statement adds.

"Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law. Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida."

The event was initially promoted as a Christmas party for “all ages” at the hotel but did not warn guests of its sexually explicit content. After the warning, the venue included a disclaimer saying that the show was “recommended for audiences 18+” but children could still come if they came with an adult.

"As a result, minors attended and were knowingly admitted," the complaint states. "During the Show and in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age, performers appeared on stage wearing sexually suggestive clothing and prosthetic female genitalia."

According to the complaint filed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the performers showed their private parts during the event, “simulated masturbation,” and rubbed their breasts on audience members.  

"Exposing genitals in a lewd or lascivious manner and simulated sexual activity are inconsistent with the prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable material for children under the age of 16," the complaint states.

The hotel claims that it is not to blame for allowing children into the show. Instead, a third party was managing the operations at the James L. Knight Center. The hotel was only in charge of the venue’s food and beverage concessions, said Hyatt Regency Miami’s General Manager Amir Blattner.