Drag queens say they tweak their performances if they notice a kid in the crowd. Republicans have cast the performances as dangerous for children.

• A Florida drag queen said performers adjust shows when there are children and families in the crowd.
• Another queen who does family-friendly events says shows create safe spaces for all children.

As Republican lawmakers across the country target family-friendly drag events, a Florida drag queen says she tweaks performances if there are kids in the crowd to make them appropriate for all ages.

"This is my 11th year doing this, and there have been countless instances of, 'Oh, there's kids in the crowd, let me change my number,' or, 'Oh there's kids in the crowd, let's change your monologue,'" drag performer Mr Ms Adrien told Insider.

Adrien said having children in a crowd "completely informs the type of show we're having," adding that drag performers start shows at family-friendly venues, such as a restaurant, by asking if any kids are present.

"I know what is acceptable for a child to see and what is not acceptable for a child to see. We know what's appropriate and inappropriate," Adrien said.

Family-friendly drag events — such as Drag Queen Story Hour, which was established as a nonprofit in 2015 and has since become a national event — are under fire from Republican lawmakers.

Bills prohibiting minors from attending drag queen events, banning drag performances in public, and classifying drag performances as adult-oriented businesses have been filed across the United States in recent months.

In Florida, the ACLU is currently tracking 10 anti-LGBTQ bills in the 2023 legislation session, including a vaguely-worded bill that would penalize venues that admit children to see an "adult live performance."

The bill's creator told Insider his motivation for pursuing the bill came after he found out a drag queen show was hosted in a public space in his district last year.

And just last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' administration moved to revoke the liquor license of Hyatt Regency Miami after it hosted a Christmas drag show where children were present.

DeSantis' press secretary, Bryan Griffin said in a statement to Insider: "Sexually explicit content is not appropriate to display to children and doing so violates Florida law. Governor DeSantis stands up for the innocence of children in the classroom and throughout Florida."

Equality Florida, an LGBTQ rights organization, said the move to revoke the Hyatt Regency Miami's liquor license is an example of the DeSantis administration "selectively weaponizing state agencies" to target drag performers and venues that are not harmful for children.

Drag performers work to make events appropriate for all ages when children are in the room

Jason DeShazo, who goes by the stage name Momma Ashley Rose and is the founder of the Rose Dynasty Foundation, works exclusively with family-friendly drag performances. Rose Dynasty Foundation is a nonprofit "whose mission is to provide a safe and family-friendly atmosphere for all people no matter their gender, race, sexual orientation, and/or religion," according to the website.

The foundation's drag brunches, DeShazo told Insider, "provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and families" while "raising money for other nonprofit and local charities."

DeShazo added that he closely monitors songs, costumes, and performances for these events to ensure they're appropriate for all ages.

He also compared different types of drag, such as family-friendly events and 18+ over performances, as the same as any other type of media.

"We have adult's television, we have children's television," DeShazo said. "We have adult music. We have children's music."

Another drag queen, Venus Envy, told Insider that while they don't solely participate in family-friendly performances, they are accustomed to "tailoring my shows to my audiences."

"The costumes I wear and songs I perform at a nightclub are not necessarily the same costumes and songs I would bring to a drag brunch."

Venus added: "I'm performing at an all-ages venue, and there is a chance that children might be in the audience. I make sure that my costumes aren't too revealing and that my music is censored."