FLORIDA – Florida’s Republican lawmakers want to declare drag shows a danger to public health and safety.

It’s called the Protection of Children bill, and it would make it illegal for your kids to attend drag events.

But Southwest Florida drag artists and businesses say the state government is interfering with parents’ rights.

Since the 1950s, when Milton Berle, Bob Hope and Flip Wilson dressed in drag for laughs, many men continue the performances in 2023.

Natalie Carter is a Southwest Florida drag queen still aiming to make audiences laugh.

“It’s a gag because we want to make people laugh.  That is the whole point,” Carter stressed.

It’s a point that she and other drag queens insist that Republican lawmakers don’t get.

“This is an art.  I love the transformation,” said Drag Artist Emma Rose.

Laura Sierra is a drag king, a woman who dresses as a man for entertainment.

Her stage name is “D.C.”

“My company raises money for nonprofit organizations and a lot of times it’s for children organizations,” Sierra said.

Republican Lawmaker Randy Fine argues drag can cause children to question their gender.

Well-known SWFL drag queen Alyssa Lemay disagrees.

“Kids know that I’m a dude in a dress,” Lemay pointed out.

Lawmakers claim that drag shows are sexually suggestive.  Lemay, wearing a long dress with a V-line neck, said she was dressed appropriately for children and grandmothers who often attend her events.

“As naked as everyone says we are, I’m wearing five layers under this,” Lemay said referring to the leotards many drag queens wear as part of their costumes.

Many of their performances raise money for charities.

“I’m sure we’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for SWFL, yes!  That is why we do what we do,” said Trixie Towers, another well-known drag artist who hosts drag bingo events in Cape Coral.

The queens are expected to join hundreds in protest at the state capitol.

“Respect our existence or expect our resistance,” declared drag queen Enya Façade.

House Bill 1423 calls for fining businesses up to $10k and taking away their business licenses.

Chris Blauvelt owns the Standard Restaurants in Fort Myers and has hosted drag bingo events for years.

“It’s singing and dancing and bingo,” Blauvelt described.

He says lawmakers and the governor are wasting their time on the bills and interfering with parents’ rights to make the conscious decision to take their children to drag events.

“They’re barking up the wrong tree! Ron (DeSantis) you know where to find me.  Come let’s have a talk,” DeSantis stated.

As drag queens prepare for their biggest show yet, a massive demonstration at the state capitol slated in April.

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