TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis will soon decide whether Florida should prohibit businesses from allowing children to attend live adult performance shows.

What You Need To Know

  • A bill that would prohibit businesses from allowing children to attend adult live performance shows is on its way to Gov DeSantis 

  • The bill would punish venues that “knowingly” allow children to attend an adult live performance

  • Violators may face fines or a suspended liquor license

The House passed the 'Protection of Children Act' Wednesday that would punish venues that “knowingly” allow children to attend an adult live performances.

Palm Bay Republican Rep. Randy Fine is the bill sponsor. The legislation, he says, will protect minors. The bill describes adult live performances as a "serious danger."

“The right question is not why do I want to stop children from going to these kinds of events,” said Fine. “The question is: why are they so determined to do it to children? This is a good bill. Protect our children.”

Passage of the measure prompted protests outside the House Chamber. Armed with signs and banners, LGBTQ+ members and activists rebuked the bill’s passage.

“Shame, shame, shame,” they chanted repeatedly.

Shane M., of Orlando, is among those who attended the protest. Shane, who asked for their last name to be withheld for privacy reasons, is trans and uses they/them pronouns. They consider the legislation a political stunt to boost DeSantis’ national profile.

“There is definitely a misunderstanding,” Shane said of the transgender community. “But, I think all of these protesters have been made forcibly aware by all of us about those misunderstandings. I think the reason why they’re are still perpetuating this is out of cyclical political aspirations.”

Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, decry the measure as an overstep by big government. They also take issue with the slate of GOP legislation they believe is impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

The House on Wednesday advanced a separate measure that criminalizes the use of a restroom that is assigned to the opposite gender if the person refuses to leave. The day prior, they advanced legislation that would restrict gender transition treatment for minors.

“I am very concerned that we’re in a time where our state government feels like it needs to look over the shoulder of every parent and now even look over the shoulder of every adult,” said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell. "It’s wrong.”

The 2023 Legislative Session ends May 5. If signed into law, the bill would go into effect immediately.