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Florida Drag Show Triumphs Over State Shutdown Bid: A Drag Queen Christmas Sells Out Pensacola Venue
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Pensacola, Florida, became the latest battleground in the state's culture wars when A Drag Queen Christmas—a touring holiday production featuring performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race—faced intense opposition from state officials. On December 23, 2025, the show sold out the 1,600-seat Saenger Theatre, marking the only event to fully book the venue that year amid months of attempts by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to block it.
Uthmeier, in a November 2025 letter to the Pensacola City Council, demanded cancellation, describing the performance as “demonic,” “anti-Christian,” and “harmful to children.” He invoked a morality clause in the theater's management contract, arguing it ridiculed Christian traditions during the holiday season near family events like Winterfest. The attorney general's public statements on X further amplified calls to halt the show at the city-owned Saenger Theatre, a taxpayer-funded facility.
This push echoed broader actions under Governor Ron DeSantis, whose administration in 2022 investigated venues hosting the same tour, threatening licenses under state “lewdness” laws for allegedly exposing minors to sexually explicit content. Courts have consistently ruled such drag restrictions unconstitutional, protecting First Amendment rights for performers and audiences.
Pensacola city officials rejected the cancellation demands, citing significant legal and financial risks. City Attorney Adam Cobb warned that breaching the theater's contract could expose the city to lawsuits, while Council President Jared Moore compared preemptive cancellation to issuing a speeding ticket before any violation occurred. The Saenger Theatre provided performers with Florida's obscenity laws, stating enforcement would follow if breached during the show.
Hundreds of residents spoke at city council meetings, with supporters passionately defending the event's right to proceed. Local religious conservatives and groups like The Cross Church, led by Pastor Kent Langham, condemned it as “public blasphemy of Jesus” and a “mockery” of Christian values. One protester shouted through a loudspeaker, “If you sinners don’t get right with the living God, God is going to put you in hell.”
Outside the venue on December 23, contrasts were stark. Members of the local gay men’s chorus sang Christmas carols for ticket-holders, fostering holiday cheer, while Christian protesters held signs and preached against the event. Mayor D.C. Reeves addressed safety, noting the police department's preparedness for protests and public optics.
Pensacola Police Chief Kristin Brown coordinated with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement, deploying dozens of officers, mobile surveillance, and vehicle barricades to protect attendees and performers. Tour host Nina West, a RuPaul’s Drag Race alum, celebrated the turnout in a video with fellow cast members: “We can’t thank Pensacola enough for showing out and showing up.”
The 21st stop on a 23-state tour running through December 29, 2025, featured holiday-themed music, comedy, and extravagant costumes by Drag Race stars, drawing queer and allied audiences seeking festive entertainment.
The sold-out performance represented resilience for drag artists and the LGBTQ+ community amid Florida's restrictive policies, including bans on gender-affirming care for transgender people and limits on trans youth in sports. Organizers and supporters viewed it as affirmation that demand for queer-inclusive art persists despite censorship attempts.
As the tour continues, with a stop in St. Petersburg shortly after, the Pensacola success highlights divides: political efforts to curtail drag versus public enthusiasm for inclusive expression. City funds support the venue's maintenance, not specific shows, clarifying no direct taxpayer subsidy for the production. This event, verified across multiple outlets, stands as a testament to ongoing debates over art, faith, and rights in the Sunshine State.
