Federal judge temporarily blocks Fla. drag ban law
A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Florida’s ban on drag performances saying that the law, Senate Bill 1438,” is specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers,” and he ruled it unconstitutional.
SB 1438 was one of a package of anti-LGBTQ laws signed last month by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, decried by multiple Florida LGBTQ equality rights groups and activists as a blatantly homophobic gesture.
U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell in his 24-page ruling noted: “The state claims that this statute seeks to protect children generally from obscene live performances.
However, as explained [in court filings], Florida already has statutes that provide such protection.” Presnell’s overturn of the drag ban follows Judge Robert Hinkle of the U.
