Bill targeting transgender care, adult entertainment passes Florida House

Tallahassee, FL – Wednesday was a busy day for Florida lawmakers, as the House passed three major bills, not without backlash.

Critics say the bills, HB 1521 (bathroom bill), SB 1438 (live entertainment for adults) and SB 254 (gender affirming care), which unfairly targets the LGBTQ+ community.

Senate Bill 1438, also known as Protecting Children, seeks to prevent children from participating in “adult live entertainment.”

SB 1438 doesn’t specifically mention drag shows, but the issue was brought to the fore at Orlando’s Christmas drag show, where kids were present.

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The bill would allow the state to revoke licenses and impose fines on offending businesses. It will also ban entertainment licenses for “adult conduct” in public places.

House Democrats opposed the bill, saying it unfairly targeted the LGBTQ+ community, contained broad language, and said the legislature should also focus on other issues.

“If you don’t want your kids to see these shows, news flashes, don’t watch them,” said State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis of Orlando. “This agency insists that Florida parents should have every right to do that. Parents. Every parent has the right to decide what’s right for their child. That’s not the government’s job. Let’s be consistent. Or have we just been inconsistent?”

Republicans who supported the bill said there was nothing in the legislation that would stop people from being themselves.

“For anyone who thinks they’re being targeted by this bill, do what I did, read the bill,” said State Rep. Joel Rudman, R-Navarre. “Because there’s nothing there to stop you from being you.”

Sponsor of the Act Companion, State Rep. Randy Fine, R-Brevard County, has said the bill aims to stop “radical transgender theory,” and has called “drag queen storytime” and other drag queen events a gateway to it.

House Bill 1521 also passed the House on Wednesday. The act requires people to use the bathroom according to their biological sex.

Democrats said the bill would only further target transgender people. They also said the bill was creating “false moral outrage” and would further divide the country.

“That’s what this bill is going to do. It’s going to hurt people,” said state Rep. Jennifer Harris of Orlando. “I — I ask you to vote no on this, you can’t even enforce it. If there’s a bill today, it should be this bill, and you can push the boundaries, vote with your conscience, and vote no on this bill.”

Republicans said transgender people were never mentioned in the bill, adding they believed the legislation was increasingly necessary.

“When we titled this bill the ‘Security in Private Space’ bill, we tried to convey the intent of this bill in a few words,” said State Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Lake Mary. “This bill, like any bill I’ve seen, will do exactly what the title says.”

In addition to HB 1521 and SB 1438, SB 254 also passed on Wednesday.

SB 254 addresses gender-affirming care for minors. The bill would prevent doctors or other providers from giving hormone therapy or puberty blockers to children under 18.

If passed by the Senate, the law could also lead to felony charges against doctors who treat minors.

Republicans say the legislation is meant to protect children.

“We’re failing to provide them with ultimate gender-affirming care,” Fine said. “Acknowledging that they are creatures God created in his image. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them being molded into what they are.”

Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando said it was difficult to see how the legislation would affect the transgender community.

“One of my voters, who is a parent of a transgender son, compared the situation to needing to call 911 and no one answered,” Eskamani said.

SB 254 has exemptions for those who are currently taking hormone therapy and puberty blockers for gender dysphoria. However, the law will require medical boards to create rules for transgender children who are already in treatment.

HB 1521 and SB 254 still require another Senate vote before reaching the governor’s desk, but SB 1438 is ready for the governor’s signature.

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