Federal appeals court upholds block on Florida’s archaic drag ban
A Florida appeals court has rejected the Ron DeSantis administration’s appeal to enact the state’s harmful drag ban. Back in May, the Republican governor targeted the LGBTQIA+ community, yet again, when he signed five anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law.
One of the pieces of legislation that the conservative official signed was SB 1438, or the “Protecting Children’s Innocence” bill – which allows the state to revoke licenses from businesses if they allow children to attend “adult live performances,” such as drag shows.
Shortly after the bill was signed into law, LGBTQ+ organisations and local queer businesses used their platforms to speak out against the hateful law – including the drag-themed bar and restaurant chain Hamburger Mary’s.
On 22 May, the popular LGBTQIA+ restaurant franchise – which has a location in Orlando, Florida – filed a lawsuit against DeSantis and the state over SB 1438’s “broad” terms.
