Florida Anti-Drag Law Defeated in Supreme Court, Governor DeSantis Faces Setback

Florida Anti-Drag Law Defeated in Supreme Court, Governor Ron DeSantis Also Affected

The Florida anti-drag show law and Governor Ron DeSantis suffered a blow in the Supreme Court on Thursday. The law, which aimed to penalize venues allowing children to attend drag shows, has been temporarily blocked from enforcement.

The Supreme Court’s decision dealt a blow to Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who supported the law that classified admitting children to sexually explicit adult live performances as a first-degree misdemeanor.

In May, DeSantis signed the law as part of a broader legislative package that included provisions on child gender transition surgeries, sexual orientation and gender identity education in schools, and gender-neutral restroom installations. However, in June, the law was blocked by Florida local judge Gregory Presnell.

Presnell argued that the law was specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers and that existing obscenity laws already protected children from explicit displays or performances.

Although the Supreme Court did not narrow the injunction issued by the lower court regarding the enforcement of the law, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch expressed their support for allowing the law to be enforced.

Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett authored the explanation of the Supreme Court’s decision to deny the stay of execution requested by the state of Florida. They acknowledged that the question of whether a local court has the authority to block the enforcement of a law against non-parties is an important question that may require further review.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody claimed that the injunction by the lower court prevented the state from enforcing a law that aimed to protect children from harm.

The case, brought by popular Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary’s, which hosted a “family-friendly” drag show, is now remanded to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for further review and may eventually be brought back to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s decision may have implications for the enforcement of Florida’s drunk driving laws.

Implications for Florida’s Anti-Drag Law

The defeat of the Florida anti-drag law in the Supreme Court has significant implications for the state. The law, which aimed to penalize venues allowing children to attend drag shows, was temporarily blocked from enforcement.

Governor Ron DeSantis, who supported the law, suffered a setback as the Supreme Court’s decision dealt a blow to his efforts. The law classified admitting children to sexually explicit adult live performances as a first-degree misdemeanor.

The law was part of a larger legislative package that included provisions on child gender transition surgeries, sexual orientation and gender identity education in schools, and gender-neutral restroom installations. However, a Florida local judge blocked the law in June, arguing that it suppressed the speech of drag queen performers and that existing obscenity laws already protected children.

The Supreme Court’s decision to deny the stay of execution requested by the state of Florida means that the law remains blocked. However, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch expressed their support for allowing the law to be enforced.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody argued that the injunction prevented the state from protecting children from harm. The case, brought by Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary’s, will now be reviewed by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and may eventually return to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court’s decision could have implications for the enforcement of other laws in Florida, including drunk driving laws.