‘Attack on us,’ Drag Show community reacts to passing of Florida State Bill 1438

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Senate Bill 1438 is expected to be voted on today in Tallahassee, and if passed, it would punish restaurants and businesses in Florida for holding live “adult entertainment,” such as drag shows, while children are present

Action News Jax spoke with Jordyn Shepheard, who is one of the owners of Hamburger Mary’s in Jacksonville says this bill is very disappointing.

“It’s an attack on us. For this to be coming around now feels like a personal attack,” says Shepheard.

Senate Bill 1438 if passed in the state of Florida could fine restaurants and even take away their business license if they have adult entertainment in the presence of a child.

While the proposal doesn’t specifically mention drag shows, the bill defines “adult live performances” as “any show, exhibition, or other presentation that is performed in front of a live audience and in whole or in part, depicts or simulates nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, specific sexual activities, … lewd conduct, or the lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.”

Shepheard believes this bill is a direct attack on the drag show community, although it doesn’t call them out directly

“To me, it’s kind of silly. It’s a fine line from what you consider adult entertainment. Drag shows have never really been considered adult entertainment,” says Shepheard.

Current Florida senator and former Jacksonville City Council member Clay Yarborough is the lead sponsor of this bill.

His office sent Action News Jax a statement on this bill today reading in part, “We are trying to protect children, who cannot un-see, un-hear, or un-experience things they are exposed to.”

Shepheard doesn’t believe that is the case.

“Restaurants like Hooters and Twin Peaks have been doing this for years. It’s never been a safety issue for children,” says Shepheard.

Shepheard, whose pronouns are She/Her says at their restaurant they have a strict policy of what is said and also done if children are present in the audience.

“At any point, we always do a check through the crowd. If there is any kid underage in the audience we adapt our music, we adapt our costuming,” says Shepheard.

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