Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon defends drag shows as ‘wholesome’ for children, brought her kids to one

Angie Nixon, a Florida state representative and Democratic socialist who recently won the Democratic primary for a US Senate seat, has defended drag shows as "wholesome entertainment" suitable for children, saying she has taken her own children to such performances. Her comments, made on the Legal AF podcast in August, came in response to a discussion about Florida's law restricting minors from attending drag shows, which a federal appeals court recently upheld. The remarks have sparked criticism from conservative commentators who argue drag performances are inherently sexualised and unsuitable for young audiences, making the exchange a flashpoint in the broader US political debate over LGBTQ+ issues and parental rights.

During the podcast interview, host Melba Pearson raised Florida's Protection of Children Act, which bars under-18s from drag shows, prompting Nixon to characterise such restrictions as an attack on marginalised communities. Critics including Theo Wold, a former Trump administration official, and Curtis Houck of the Media Research Center's NewsBusters division disputed her "wholesome" framing, arguing drag has historically been adult-oriented entertainment. Jaimee Michell, founder of Gays Against Groomers, also condemned Nixon's comments as dangerous, citing examples of sexualised drag costumes and routines.