State Representative Randy Fine (R-FL) recently introduced House Bill 1423 which strives for the “Protection of Children.” The bill looks to “fine, suspend, or revoke the licenses” of establishments that knowingly admits children to “adult live performances” such as drag shows or events that depict lewd acts or conduct.
However, some of his statements defending the bill turned some heads and dropped some jaws – literally.
Rep. Fine found it noteworthy that the LGBT community is openly admitting that this bill would apply to them.
While defending his bill in Florida that would ban drag and pride events, @VoteRandyFine said that "if it means erasing a community, because [LGBTQ people] have to target children, then damn right we outta do it."
This is one of the most bigoted statements I've ever heard. pic.twitter.com/MBSFlwjtBc
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) April 12, 2023
“They’re the ones that are saying this definition applies to them. Well, if it means erasing a community because you have to target children, when damn right, we ought to do it. I just don’t think you have to inherently say because you’re lesbian or gay, that you want to target children. I find that statement to be offensive to them. And they’re the ones that are saying this definition applies to them,” stated Rep. Fine.
Fine would also question the motivations of the community that find this bill discriminatory.
Randy Fine goes on to state that supporting this bill doesn't mean "standing with the Proud Boys" despite the fact that this bill accomplishes legislatively what they've been trying to do with extrajudicial threats and intimidation. pic.twitter.com/MONGMK5Zcd
— Alejandra Caraballo (@Esqueer_) April 12, 2023
“The question is, why are there people in this world so determined to push this on children? Because if you weren’t doing that, this bill wouldn’t exist.”
Fine concluded that support for this bill is not support for the far-right “Proud Boys,” as he himself is Jewish, but that supporting this bill is a belief that “this stuff should be kept away from children.”
“You vote for this bill, you’re not standing up with the Proud Boys, something I find personally offensive, given how they feel about me. You’re standing up with people who believe this stuff should be kept away from children.”
SB 1438 is the companion bill in the state senate.
