Republican state representative Randy Fine of Florida has been fervently defending a bill he is sponsoring that would criminalize “adult live performances” in front of children. While the proposed legislation aims to protect children from obscene content, it may also criminalize the work of some of the state’s drag performers who have deep ties to the LGBTQ community. Furthermore, if the bill becomes law, it might criminalize the work of a Floridian, Wendy Fine, who is co-hosting an annual gala to raise money for a children’s charity called Spring Forward for Autism, which Randy Fine is also sponsoring.
The gala will feature “an evening filled with sultry performers,” according to the nonprofit group’s website. Images and videos on social media of past years’ events show women, including Wendy Fine, posing and dancing in lingerie and revealing costumes. Such performances could be considered illegal under the legislation Randy Fine introduced this year, which seeks to criminalize “adult live performances” in the presence of children.
Proponents of the “adult live performance” measure argue that it is necessary to protect children from obscene content. However, critics see it as a way to unfairly target drag performances. Republican legislators in more than a dozen other states have introduced similar bills to restrict the art form this year, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has sought to revoke the liquor licenses of at least three businesses that have hosted drag shows in recent months. Several other legislators have also introduced bills to restrict drag performances in the state.
The controversy surrounding the proposed legislation has drawn criticism from LGBTQ advocates who view it as hypocritical for the Fines to sponsor a gala that may be illegal under their own bill. As images of Wendy Fine at the gala’s past events circulated on social media, some accused the Fines of hypocrisy. Wendy Fine did not respond to requests for comment, and when NBC News called her seeking a statement, she said she was dialing in her husband, who could then be heard telling her, “Just hang up.”
The proposed legislation also raises concerns about how it could impact the autistic community, as the Spring Forward for Autism charity is intended to benefit autistic children. While the gala’s website and event invitation do not indicate that the event excludes minors, a toddler can be seen in a video from last year’s event. Susan Belcher, the founder and president of Spring Forward for Autism, who is co-hosting the event with Wendy Fine, did not respond to calls for comment.
The proposed legislation and the controversy surrounding the Fines’ involvement in the gala highlight the ongoing cultural and political debates surrounding LGBTQ issues in Florida and beyond. The potential impact of the legislation on the LGBTQ community and the autistic community will continue to be a subject of debate and discussion as the bill moves through the state legislature.