WRE News: Supreme Court Blocks Florida’s Drag Show Restriction Law

Miami, FL – November 17, 2023 – The Supreme Court has rejected a request to lift the block on a law restricting drag shows in Florida. The law, known as the “Protection of Children Act,” aimed to prevent children from exposure to sexually explicit live performances. The Supreme Court, including conservative justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch, declined to narrow the lower court’s injunction that deemed the law likely unconstitutional. Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett, in agreement with the decision, cited First Amendment complexities and called the case an “imperfect vehicle” for resolving key questions. The law, signed by DeSantis in 2023, faced legal challenges from popular Orlando restaurant Hamburger Mary’s, which hosts drag brunches. The restaurant argued that the law resulted in a loss of business and claimed the legislation’s restrictions were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court’s order means the law cannot be enforced statewide until the legal challenge concludes, potentially taking months.