Drag Queen Jason DeShazo, also known as Mama Ashley Rose has discovered a way to try to sneak Drag Queen Story Hour into Florida. According to a Facebook post, DeShazo plans to hold his story hour in the Mexican Consulate in Orlando.
"Join us for Drag Story Time with local favorite Momma Ashley Rose and guest Zara Nouveau! With so many LGBTQ+ people and families under attack in Florida this year, let’s come together as a community and celebrate Pride Month with an afternoon of snacks, stories and fun for all ages," DeShazo states on his webpage. "🌈 Zara will be reading a story in Spanish for this culturally inclusive event!"
"Instead of fighting the cartels who control their border and terrorize their own citizens, the government of Mexico is ... planning Drag Queen Story Time at their consulate in Orlando. Priorities," Tweeted Governor DeSantis's Rapid Response Director Christina Pushaw.
Instead of fighting the cartels who control their border and terrorize their own citizens, the government of Mexico is ... planning Drag Queen Story Time at their consulate in Orlando.
Priorities.(h/t @ReOpenChris) pic.twitter.com/OEo8dPhDMm
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) July 19, 2023
According to the Facebook post, the event will be held at Consulmex Orlando on July 29 from 12n-2 pm. DeShazo has a history of challenging DeSantis after he signed SB 1438 which holds venues accountable for allowing children into an "adult live performance."
Drag Queen Story Hour has been interpreted to be a performance of that type. Last month a federal judge put a stay on the law after a lawsuit was filed by Hamburger Mary's, a drag venue in Orlando which allows children to participate in their shows. DeSantis convened a Grand Jury who recommended he move to pull a Miami venue's liquor license after hosting an all ages Drag Show where minors were in the audience last year, which he did.
DeShazo attempted to have a "Donuts and Drag" event in an Orlando high school in March but it was cancelled after a call from the state. In response to the cancellation, DeShazo was quoted as saying, “I was shocked and dismayed today to learn that the third annual Drag and Donuts event with Boone High School QAA was abruptly canceled when the Florida Department of Education threatened to strip the licenses of any teacher, administrator or staff having any involvement with this totally voluntary, student-led, after-school event."
DeShazo says he uses these events to talk to "queer" children with "unaccepting" parents.
"[The children] ask how to deal with parents or people that are not accepting. It’s very important for these queer people and allies to know and hear from people that are just like them," DeShazo is quoted as saying.
Gays Against Groomers, a coalition of gay people who oppose sexualization of children put up a tweet about the event.
The post from Gays Against Groomers Florida reads, "It has come to our attention that there is a "family friendly" Drag Story Time event being held at the Consulmex Orlando, FL. Why the Mexican consulate? Because if this event were held anywhere else in Florida it would be in violation of statute 827.11: exposing children to an adult live performance. It seems they took this into consideration, since only Mexico laws apply for the event. Drag has always been adult entertainment. Their performances are almost always provocative or sexual in nature, and while we have no issue with consenting adults attending said performances, they are no place for children."
It has come to our attention that there is a "family friendly" Drag Story Time event being held at the Consulmex Orlando, FL. Why the Mexican consulate? Because if this event were held anywhere else in Florida it would be in violation of statute 827.11: exposing children to an… pic.twitter.com/qt3TFudYaW
— Gays Against Groomers Florida (@GAG_Florida) July 19, 2023
Will DeShazo be able to hold his event in the Mexican Consulate if it violates Florida law?
When a Twitter user replied to Pushaw's post with a comment about diplomatic immunity, Kyle Lamb of Team DeSantis commented "has just been revoked".
"...has just been revoked," -- Martin Riggs
— Kyle Lamb (@kylamb8) July 19, 2023
