Florida AG Tries to Cancel "Drag Queen Christmas"

Florida politicians want to cancel an upcoming Christmas themed drag show, alleging the “obscene” display “openly mocks” Christianity and endangers public morals.

The event, called "A Drag Queen Christmas," is part of the "Naughty Tour," a long-running holiday drag show featuring stars from Rupaul’s Drag Race. One of their stops this year is at the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, a venue owned by the city. 

In a recent letter sent to the Pensacola City Council, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier demanded the venue cancel the upcoming drag show, alleging that the show constitutes a “threat to the moral fabric” of their community, and threatening “further legal scrutiny” should they refuse to comply.

“Demonic” Drag?

“Curtains up on this openly anti-Christian show” wrote Uthmeier in his letter to Pensacola officials demanding they exercise their contractual right to cancel the event. Citing everything from the names of drag performers to their “demonic” outfits, Uthmeier alleged that the show is an all-out assault on the Christian faith, a blatant mockery of everything Christians hold dear. 

The show is marketed as an 18+ event, but Uthmeier nevertheless expresses concerns about children.

“The show’s content is designed to inflame religious strife, its timing is intentional, and its proximity to children is unacceptably problematic,” he wrote. “Men dressed as garish women in demonic costumes” might “expose themselves to the kids innocently enjoying Christmas festivities” at a nearby event, he speculated. 

“Such city-sanctioned religious mockery may amount to religious discrimination,” Uthmeier warned, ratcheting up the rhetoric further.

A video from a past event has also made the rounds on social media, sparking outraged reactions from critics:

City Council Not Backing Down

For months, Pensacola city councilors have heard complaints from religious conservatives wanting the show canceled. In September, a local pastor called the event “profanity-laden” and “blatantly sexual.”

If the next hurricane makes landfall in Florida, some already think they know why; Former state Rep. Mike Hill stopped by one city council meeting to warn that proceeding with the drag show would invite “God’s judgment and retribution."

But so far, the city council seems skeptical of Uthmeier’s threats. “With all due respect to the Attorney General's office, this was an unsolicited opinion,” said Councilmember Charles Bare. “As far as I'm concerned, this is his personal opinion written on government letterhead wasting taxpayer dollars.”

In other words: thanks, but no thanks.

And as you might expect, the drag queens similarly aren’t taking the criticism lying down. 

“Honestly, if this were a nativity play and we were ‘men in dresses’ portraying the wise men or angels, no one would bat an eye. They’d probably praise it,” explained Lexi, a popular drag queen scheduled to perform in the show. “The double standard is obvious.”

The (Drag) Show Must Go On

So far, the drag show is still on-track for its scheduled December 23rd date, despite the attorney general’s insistence that the event taking place in a public venue represents a grievous affront to Florida's decency and Christian values. He also says the “sacrilege” event will “inflame religious strife” in the panhandle. 

But LGBTQ+ advocates say they have a simple solution for Christians offended by the Christmas drag show in their community, one which will protect them witnessing this apparent affront to their religious and moral values: Don’t go.

After all, this is a closed-door, 18+ event. No one who doesn’t want to see a drag performance will see a drag performance, they point out. 

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