Florida AG Nails New Kind Of Stupid: Subpoenas Restaurant Over Drag Queen Show
Literally, doesn’t the state prosecutor have better things to do?
Featured image: Kilted Mermaid Pride Tea Dance public poster for June 29, 2025 Event/via FaceBook
As a mother, I can honestly say: there are few things more fun than introducing your kid to a 6-foot “Dorothy” look-a-like in P-Town. Who doesn’t love to see feathers fly at Drag Story Hour at the local library? Honey, anyone who doesn’t love a good drag show is a killjoy, a spoiler, someone you don’t want at the party
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is exactly that person.
Earlier this month, Florida’s statewide prosecutor targeted neighborhood craft bar, Kilted Mermaid in Vero Beach, for hosting a “Pride Tea Dance” on June 29, 2025 at which minors were allegedly present. Uthmeier issued a subpoena to owner, Vero Beach Vice Mayor Linda Moore. If the AG has his way, purveyors of such wigged and well-heeled entertainment will face fines, suspension of liquor licenses and a criminal misdemeanor charge.
“There is evidence that Moore advertised the performance on social media as “all ages welcome,” which featured adult, sexualized performers in front of children, in violation of Florida law,” the AG Office notice reads. “…sexualized adult performers wore revealing attire and burlesque outfits while interacting with the children.”
“In Florida, we don’t sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults,” Uthmeier states.
This particular AG probe aims to draw leverage from Florida’s Protection of Children Act, which bars children from attending “adult live performances” featuring sexual or lewd conduct. It was spearheaded by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and signed into law in May 2023.
Reportedly, the tea dance probe was prompted by a complaint from Jennifer Pippin, Chair of the Indian River County Chapter of of anti-gay org, Moms for Liberty, who has also spearheaded book bans (i.e. The Black Friend, The Black Kids, The Black Flamingo…).
To date, the bill (AKA “The Drag Queen Ban”) has been found to be unenforceable; one month after the bill was signed, U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell determined that the law was not “narrowly tailored” and potentially “unconstitutionally vague and overbroad”; additionally it does not define key phrases, like “live performance,” “child,” “lewd conduct” or “lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”
While we haven’t seen a recording of the event to ascertain the content, the investigation raises questions around First Amendment rights.
Moore and Kilted Mermaid are required to produce necessary documents by August 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Community vibes on Kilted Mermaid probe: Key West icon Sushi (a.k.a. Gary Marion), who retired her pumps after 25 years at the New Year’s Eve ‘Red Shoe Drop’: “Life is a drag without queens, Darling.”
