DeSantis says he cut arts funding over objections to ‘sexual’ festivals

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday cited “sexual” festivals in Orlando and Tampa as the reason he vetoed more than $32 million in arts funding across Florida this month.

“You have your tax dollars being given in grants to things like the Fringe Festival, which is like a sexual festival where they’re doing all this stuff,” DeSantis said during a news conference, offering the first explanation about his decision to cut the entirety of the cultural grants and arts funding from the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Orlando International Fringe Theater Festival, held annually for 33 years, has live theater, concerts and “kid friendly shows and activities.” The Orlando Sentinel’s arts writer and theater critic noted that at least one of the shows at the festival in May “can get sexual — but always for a good reason and maximum comic effect.”

Tampa also has an annual International Fringe Festival, which has featured comedians, puppeteers and other artists.

State Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said the Orlando festival, which she attended this year, was not “sexual.”

“It does feature drag queens and other forms of artistic expression that DeSantis has wanted to censor despite courts telling him otherwise!” she wrote in a text message.

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DeSantis’ cuts to arts funding stunned organizations across the state and left them scrambling to find new sources of funding. Vetoes included $55,000 for the Miami Book Fair, $70,415 for a local Jewish community center and $46,530 for an artist residency.

The Legislature also set aside $70,500 in grant funding for theater group Miami New Drama, which is now worried about paying workers and running its educational program. DeSantis’ explanation signals that “this is a state that doesn’t value culture,” said Executive Director Michel Hausmann.

It’s not clear whether the Fringe festival would have gotten money from this year’s budget. As Politico Florida noted, the state funds cultural projects through a ranked list, and a $150,000 item for the festival was ranked low, likely beyond the point of receiving any funding this year. More than $15,000 for the Tampa International Fringe Festival was ranked even lower.

“It’s like, how many of you think your tax dollars should go to fund that?” DeSantis said. “Not very many people would do that.”

Orlando Fringe Festival producer Tempestt Halstead said the event was one of 200 Fringe festivals around the world “contributing to a global movement of artistic expression and cultural exchange.”

“In referring to the fringe as a ‘sexual’ festival, he incorrectly characterized our festival and misrepresented our contributions to the arts community, locally, nationally and internationally,” Halstead said in a statement.

DeSantis’ spokespeople did not respond to questions about which events at the festivals were sexual, or whether there were other arts projects around the state he objected to.

DeSantis has cracked down on drag shows that allow children, and he pushed for legislation in 2023 that barred venues from admitting children to adult live performances. A federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the law over concerns it violated First Amendment rights. The U.S. Supreme Court in November refused to reinstate it.

“By vetoing arts and culture grants and making such a statement, he is trying to control and censor the content of the arts,” said Democratic Sen.-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando. He said this year’s Orlando Fringe festival drew 18,000 people.

DeSantis said the Legislature needs to “reevaluate” how arts projects are funded.

“When I see money being spent that way, I have to be the one to stand up for taxpayers and say, ‘You know what, that is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars,” DeSantis said.

“I can’t sell the Fringe Festival to taxpayers, nor would I want to try to sell the Fringe Festival to taxpayers,” he added.

This story was produced with financial support from individuals and Berkowitz Contemporary Arts in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.

Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau reporter Ana Ceballos contributed to this report.

This story was originally published June 27, 2024 at 1:56 PM.