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Friday, May 1, 2026

Federal judge temporarily blocks Florida law restricting drag shows - Axios

A federal judge blocked enforcement of a Florida law cracking down on drag shows, writing in an order issued Friday that the rule is vague and contradicts the state's commitment to parental rights.

What's happening: U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell issued the preliminary injunction in response to a request from the Orlando location of Hamburger Mary's, a drag-themed restaurant that sued the state over the law in May.

  • The law "is specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers," Presnell wrote.

Zoom in: In their request for an injunction, Hamburger Mary's attorneys said the restaurant lost customers after barring children from drag shows to comply with the law.

  • The harm to the restaurant, Presnell ruled, outweighs the imagined harm that could result from blocking the law as the challenge moves through the legal system.

Why it matters: The law was part of a sweeping slate of legislation restricting health care and public expression for LGBTQ+ Floridians that came out of this year's legislative session.

  • Presnell's order is also part of a recent string of legal victories for LGBTQ+ people across the country.
  • In the last two weeks, courts in Florida, Arkansas and Indiana have blocked restrictions to transgender health care.

The other side: A spokesman for Gov. Ron DeSantis told Axios that his office believes the judge's ruling is "dead wrong" and that the state plans to appeal.

  • DeSantis has previously said that drag shows "sexualize" children and...


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