The Hyatt Regency Miami has agreed to revise its policies and pay a $5,000 fine after allowing children to attend a “lewd and lascivious” drag performance nearly one year ago.
State regulators had previously threatened to revoke the hotel’s liquor license after it permitted minors to attend an event titled “A Drag Show Christmas,” despite state law prohibiting “lewd or lascivious exhibition” in the presence of children under the age of 16.
The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) announced Wednesday that the case had been settled.
“Under the leadership of Governor DeSantis, when licensees break the law, they are held accountable,” said DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin in a press release. “DBPR takes the safety and wellbeing of Floridians seriously; I thank our hardworking officers for thoroughly investigating these violations of Florida law and protecting minors at our DBPR-licensed establishments from this harm in the future.”
Under the terms of the settlement, the Hyatt Regency in Miami is required to:
- Pay an administrative fine of $5,000 to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) within 30 days;
- Not permit patrons under 18 to any performance conducted in the James L. Knight Center or any successor performance center under the License, that contains, depicts, or simulates any activities described by section 847.001(23), Florida Statues; and
- Abstain from selling or serving food or beverages for any performance in the James L. Knight Center, or any successor performance center under the License, that contains, depicts, or simulates any activities described by section 847.001(23), Florida Statutes, if one or more patrons under the age of 18 are admitted to said performance.
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Today, DBPR announced that Hyatt Regency in Miami, which allowed children to observe an inappropriate sexualized show, agreed to settle their case before going to court. This is the 3rd settlement this year enforcing FL law & protecting minors.
Read more: https://t.co/dZMrNkDmlr pic.twitter.com/L9NFLVG5tq
— Florida DBPR (@FloridaDBPR) November 29, 2023
The DBPR had previously moved to revoke the Hyatt’s liquor license last March after the hotel reportedly defied warnings and hosted an “all ages” drag show. According to the DBPR’s official complaint, “minors attended and were knowingly admitted” to the adult performance, and,
“During the Show and in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age, performers appeared on stage wearing sexually suggestive clothing and prosthetic female genitalia.”
The complaint described the drag performers wearing prosthetic genitalia, which was rubbed on the mouths and faces of audience members. Other performers reportedly exposed their buttocks to the audience, gave performances “simulating masturbation,” and acted out other scenes, including “graphic depictions of childbirth and/or abortion.”
At the time, the Miami Hyatt denied responsibility over the event, claiming that the venue was “managed by third-party operators.” The consent order published Wednesday also says that the hotel “admits no liability by settling” the case.
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A drag queen “gives birth” in a bizarre explicit performance during a “family-friendly” Drag Queen Christmas event in Orlando, Florida. Children are in the audience. pic.twitter.com/LpJy6oVwWr
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) December 29, 2022
The DBPR also stated that the Miami Hyatt case was the third settlement this year involving age-inappropriate performances.
On August 7, the Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation also agreed to pay a $5,000 fine over its role in the “Drag Show Christmas” event.
On September 12, R House, Inc. in Miami also agreed to settle before going to court. After “repeatedly putting children in inappropriate situations,” the restaurant agreed to submit to a $10,000 fine and revise its admission policies.
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