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| Instead of handling a child sex trafficking scandal in Florida's foster care system, Ron DeSantis is picking another fight with drag queens and the LGBTQ community. |
Implying that LGBTQ people and our culture are "sexually grooming" kids has gotten Fl Governor Ron DeSantis a lot of press, so naturally he is continuing to push that narrative.
From LGBTQNation:
The administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is investigating a performing arts venue for hosting a drag queen event. A right-wing online activist also recorded a video of himself being escorted out of the venue by security during the event after he stood up and yelled about kids being present. Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is investigating the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale and other venues after receiving “multiple complaints” of a December 26 “A Drag Queen Christmas” event that was allegedly “sexually explicit” and “marketed to children,” The Hill reported. If the venues are found to have violated the DBPR’s licensing standards, they could have their business and liquor licenses revoked, essentially putting them out of business. The investigation could also be referred to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for “potential criminal liability.”. . . In a letter addressed to the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation, the second-to-last stop on the show’s tour, and sent to Drag Fans, the event’s organizer, the DBPR wrote, “The Department has reason to believe that this drag show is of a sexual nature, involving the exposure or exhibition of sexual organs, similar sexual activity, and/or the sexualization of children’s stories. The Department has become aware that drag shows by Drag Fans have been marketed to and attended by minors, including young children.” In actuality, the show contains one reference to alcohol with neither no nudity nor sexual references.. . .A spokesperson for the Broward Center told The Hill that the drag performance was limited to people 18 years or older, unless accompanied by a parent. However, the Center’s web page advertising the event on December 17 called the event “an all-ages show” that “may contain adult content.” The Broward Center also sent out a “Know Before You Go” message to ticket purchasers making them aware that the show contained adult themes and content.
Attacking drag shows by falsely claiming that they are deliberately and sexually marketing to kids has been a popular claim from conservative "activists" and politicians this year. Hysterical claims helped along by distorted and taken out of context videos have helped to fuel a false narrative which has led to threat of violence against not only drag queens but the LGBTQ community at large.
In this particular situation, however, there seems to be pushback against DeSantis. State Rep Carlos Guillermo Smith sent out a series of tweets claiming that DeSantis is more interested with picking fights with drag queens and pushing culture war tropes than actually dealing with a huge scandal involving child sex trafficking in the state's foster care system.
Ron DeSantis state-run foster care program exposed teenage girls to sex trafficking. In fact, 21% of Florida’s 377 verified child human trafficking victims in 2021 were groomed and recruited from foster care. Why isn’t he investigating that? https://t.co/05WUClrKc6
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) December 29, 2022
Ron DeSantis refused to fine a single hotel after finding 14,279 violations of anti-human trafficking laws, even though 377 verified sex trafficking victims were Florida children.
— Carlos Guillermo Smith (@CarlosGSmith) December 28, 2022
Instead, @FloridaDBPR is aggressively and publicly threatening businesses for hosting drag shows. pic.twitter.com/mRmkAfL6Mx
An investigation published by the South Florida Sun Sentinel found that 6,669 hotels and other lodging establishments had received 14,279 citations since a 2019 sex trafficking law required them to make changes to protect victims. Under the anti-trafficking law, violators are supposed to receive fines of up to $2,000 a day. However, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation says not a single fine has been issued because the law allows hotels a 90-day period to fix violations, and so far all have done so.
So apparently Florida does have a problem with sex-trafficking. But the problem isn't with drag queens or any other members of the LGBTQ community. The problem lies with DeSantis who is attempting to build a road to the presidency on the backs of LGBTQ people he demonizes and the sexually abused children he is ignoring.
Editor's note - This will most likely be my last post of 2022. Happy New Year and hope to see you in 2023.
