Florida Governor Ron DeSantis just can’t seem to catch a break. In the past month alone, he’s suffered three high-profile legal setbacks, the latest being a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Gregory A. Presnell of the Federal District Court in Orlando. The injunction blocks a new law backed by DeSantis that prohibits businesses from allowing children to attend “adult performances.” This is a blow to the governor, who has been an outspoken proponent of restricting LGBTQ+ rights.
DeSantis has been in a tug-of-war with Disney over his so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which has already cost the state 2,000 relocated jobs and a $1 billion construction project. It’s clear that his anti-LGBTQ+ stance is not only harmful but also costly for the state.
In his ruling, Judge Presnell agreed that existing obscenity laws already give the state the authority to protect children. He also found that the DeSantis-backed law was too broad and restricted First Amendment rights. While the law wasn’t struck down entirely, a lawsuit challenging the statute brought by an Orlando-area bar and restaurant will go forward.
DeSantis has defended his stance, saying, “We believe in letting kids be kids. And some of this stuff with like, you know, we saw with these drag shows, some of this adult entertainment, not necessarily my cup of tea.” However, it’s clear that the judge’s ruling is a win for protecting the rights of children and the LGBTQ+ community.
It’s worth noting that this is just the latest setback for DeSantis. Earlier this week, a different judge struck down a statute that banned Florida Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare. On June 6, the same court partially blocked the state from enforcing its recent ban on people under 18 receiving gender-affirming care. It’s clear that DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ+ agenda is not only harmful but also unconstitutional.
