A U.S. judge on Friday blocked a new Florida law restricting drag performances, the third time this month that federal courts have enjoined laws backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis that concern gender or LGBTQ matters.
In Friday’s decision, U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell of the Middle District of Florida granted an injunction preventing the state from enforcing a law that bans minors from attending "obscene live performances," calling it too broad.
The judge refused to dismiss the law entirely, meaning the underlying lawsuit challenging it will go forward.
Hamburger Mary’s, an Orlando bar and restaurant that presents drag show performances, comedy sketches and dancing, filed the lawsuit in response to the law that DeSantis signed in May.
“Florida already has statutes that provide such protection (from obscene performances).
On Wednesday, another judge struck down a Florida rule and a statute that banned state Medicaid payments for transgender healthcare.
In both of those cases, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida cited 14th Amendment guarantees to equal protection under the law. »
