The Left spent two years claiming Florida's child protection law was "unconstitutional."
They got a federal judge to block it statewide.
But Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier just delivered a Christmas present to conservative parents that leftists will absolutely hate.
Federal appeals court hands Florida major victory on drag show law
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a lower court order that blocked enforcement of Florida's 2023 law preventing children from attending sexually explicit performances.
The ruling allows Florida to enforce the Protection of Children Act across the entire state — with one exception.
Only Hamburger Mary's, the Orlando venue that sued, gets a carve-out from enforcement.
Attorney General Uthmeier wasted no time celebrating the victory. "For two years, our law preventing children from attending sexually explicit drag shows was held up in court," Uthmeier posted on X. "Starting today, the law is in effect thanks to a win on appeal by our office."
The timing couldn't be better.
Uthmeier specifically put Pensacola on notice just days before a controversial drag show scheduled for December 23 at the city-owned Saenger Theatre.
"If you're exposing children to lewd conduct, you're on notice," Uthmeier wrote. "We're watching, Pensacola."
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/2000671416199389202?s=20
The show, titled "A Drag Queen Christmas," features performers described as the "Demon Queen of Seattle" and "demonic Betty Bop."
How the Supreme Court paved the way for Florida's enforcement
The appeals court decision hinges on a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited universal injunctions — court orders blocking laws nationwide even when most parties aren't involved in the case.
U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued a statewide injunction in 2023 after Hamburger Mary's challenged the law.
A three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld that injunction in May, with Judges Robin Rosenbaum and Nancy Abudu claiming the law was too vague.
Florida kept fighting.
Uthmeier requested a full-court hearing, arguing the injunction should only protect Hamburger Mary's — not every venue in Florida looking to expose children to lewd content.
The full appeals court agreed.
The law targets performances depicting or simulating nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts.
It allows regulators to suspend or revoke licenses of venues that violate the statute and prohibits local governments from issuing permits for events exposing children to such performances.
Melissa Stewart, the attorney representing Hamburger Mary's, claimed disappointment with the ruling. "We are going to keep fighting to protect the First Amendment rights of all Floridians," Stewart said in a statement.
That's rich coming from someone defending sexually explicit content marketed to children.
Uthmeier's broader campaign to defend Christian values
The drag show enforcement is just one front in Uthmeier's aggressive push to combat anti-Christian discrimination.
In November, Uthmeier sent three separate letters in one week challenging what he called religious hostility from major institutions.
He accused Microsoft of denying nonprofit discounts to Christian pregnancy centers and faith-based schools.
He challenged the American Bar Association's review of a Florida Catholic law school's accreditation as potential discrimination.
And he warned Pensacola that hosting the Christmas drag show could constitute religious discrimination since it openly mocks Christianity on city-owned property days before Christmas.
"While the First Amendment safeguards freedom of expression, it does not require a city to platform and endorse disgusting, obscene content that denigrates its residents' religious beliefs," Uthmeier wrote.
https://twitter.com/AGJamesUthmeier/status/1986818455618633917?s=20
Critics on the Left predictably melted down.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's attorney Chris Line claimed Uthmeier's actions were "completely inappropriate" and accused him of using "the power of government to advance a narrow form of Christianity."
"Florida is not a Christian state, and the United States is not a Christian nation," Line said.
That tells you everything you need to know about whose side they're on.
Parents who don't want their children exposed to sexualized performances by men dressed as demonic women shouldn't need Attorney General intervention.
But here we are.
For two years, one federal judge's nationwide injunction prevented Florida from enforcing a law designed to protect children from lewd content.
Now Uthmeier has that enforcement power back — and he's making clear Florida won't tolerate venues that put children at risk.
The Left can cry about "censorship" all they want.
Common sense says children don't belong at sexually explicit drag shows, and now Florida has the legal authority to enforce that standard statewide.
¹ Stephany Matat, "Florida gets green light to enforce anti-drag show law," USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, December 16, 2025.
² Ibid.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Stephany Matat, "Florida attorney general sparks debate on religious discrimination," USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, November 19, 2025.
