Drag Queen Christmas Show in Pensacola Sells Out Amid Florida AG's Push to Cancel
A Drag Queen Christmas tour stop at a 1,600-capacity venue in Pensacola sold out despite nearly two months of efforts by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to cancel the event over claims of anti-Christian content. The Pensacola city council refused to cancel the show, citing potential legal fees if the production company pursued a lawsuit. The AG’s November 7 letter also misgendered Bosco, a Seattle-based drag queen not scheduled to appear in any Florida dates.
Florida's anti-drag legislative environment includes the 2023 Protection of Children drag ban, which courts had previously blocked. However, a December 15, 2025 legal update put that law into effect after years of legal uncertainty. In 2022, the DeSantis administration investigated four Drag Queen Christmas stops in Florida under "lewdness" laws, alleging that venues hosted sexually explicit performances marketed to children, though the evidence supporting these claims was unclear.
Despite backlash, drag culture remains vibrant in Florida, which is home to five of 14 RuPaul’s Drag Race queens this season, reflecting a broader, diverse community. Pensacola’s LGBTQ+ history is longstanding, with the Emma Jones Society active since the 1950s. Drag shows in the city are described as a community lifeline, often supplemented by events like a Toys for Tots drive.
A local GoFundMe campaign in Pensacola to cover venue costs for the Drag Queen Christmas show, initially set with a $1,363 goal, has greatly exceeded its target as supporters contribute to backing the event. Additionally, Qommittee, a national coalition of drag performers and allies, has urged the public to continue attending shows and supporting performers as a response to anti-drag actions.
