Local entertainment and concert venue, Plaza Live, landed itself in hot water with the state last December when it hosted a touring holiday-themed drag show, a move that may cost it its liquor license.
Back in December 2022, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, filed a complaint against The Plaza Live for allowing a performance of the touring show, “A Drag Queen Christmas” to take place there, a show that features drag queens from hit tv series Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
The complaint accused Plaza Live (Facebook | Website) of allowing for a “sexually explicit” drag show to be marketed to minors as a holiday-themed show, not forewarning attendees of the sexual nature of the show, and allowing entry to people under the age of 18. The Plaza was issued a formal letter on December 28th, which you can read in our December story linked above), stating that they could potentially lose their alcohol license if they allowed the event to take place with children in attendance and that they were under investigation.
Following that investigation, the Department has since ruled that The Plaza failed to prevent minors from entering and declared that they have violated Florida laws in doing so, despite the venue posting signs at the entrance with the following message.
“While we are not restricting access to anyone under 18 please be advised some may think the context is not appropriate for under 18.”
– THE PLAZA LIVE
The complaint states that The Plaza allowed persons to “commit lewd or lascivious exhibition” in the presence of an individual who is less than 16 years old,” and includes photos of parents entering The Plaza with children. The complaint also states that the show included “simulated sex acts,” and more adult skits that should not have been accessible to minors, like this act by Ru Paul alum Jimbo with a couple of backup reindeer dancers called “Screwdolph the Red-Nippled Reindeer.”
As a result, the state will be revoking The Plaza’s license for the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages, according to a statement by Governor DeSantis’ press secretary, Bryan Griffin, and the venue is facing six civil counts of statute violations.
Questions remain as to how much longer they will be allowed to serve liquor and when the license will be revoked, and if they will be allowed to use a third-party caterer for special events if they have their own license.
No criminal charges have been filed.
A statement from The Plaza was not available at the time of this post.
Oh PUL-EASE…
Grow up Flo-ri-DUH.
Let’s close a well known major venue because a couple bigoted prudes are all wound up over some folks playing dress up….
AND ‘splain to me Lucy the correlation between the content and sale of liquor because I don’t understand that one.
I grew up in Orlando, moved out and will never step foot in Florida gain.
The ghost of Lenny Bruce could not be reached for comment…
Same desantis bullshit
THIS is Bullshit!
DeSantis is weaponizing HIS beliefs!
IT’S going to be one thing after another.