Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is investigating a local bar for hosting a drag show, according to a report from Texas Scorecard.
Ebb & Flow, a bar in Plano, is reportedly under investigation, as indicated by records the news site obtained.
The initial controversy stemmed from a video taken by Sara Gonzales of Defend Our Kids Texas back in October, which shows drag dancers performing in front of a child who was brought into the show.
The investigation is apparently centered around the requirement for sexually oriented businesses to pay an additional $5 patron tax and disallow entry to such shows for anyone under the age of 18.
The comptroller wrote a letter in February to Ebb & Flow asking if it is a sexually oriented business.
“As the Legislature takes critical steps to protect Texas children and strengthen statutes to restrict sexualized performances, my office will continue to work within the confines of existing law and investigate performances to determine if an entity must pay the fees associated with operating a sexually oriented business,” Hegar told Texas Scorecard.
Dallas Hale, the owner of the Ebb & Flow, told the Dallas Observer in October that the bar had received threats over the drag shows and claimed the drag shows were not intended to sexualize children.
Hale said parents brought a child to the drag show that Gonzales filmed, and he had warned the parents that the show would have adult content.
The parents dismissed those words of caution, according to Hale, saying that they had brought the child to “a million drag shows and that’s why we bought tickets for this,” per the Dallas Observer.
The Dallas Express reached out to Texas Reps. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) and Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) to ask if they were aware of the investigation but did not hear back by the time of publication.
The Dallas Express also reached out to Ebb & Flow owner Dallas Hale but did not receive a response.
This type of hyperbolic, fear mongering “journalism” will end up getting someone killed. I hope this “news” organization is aware of that — or that you even care.
There are 11 paragraphs. Which one do you consider to be hyperbolic. Where are the opinionated words that are not straight quotes from either side?
The video tells the story.
Kids often mimic what they see.
Thus a child could be raising her dress and repeating words that I cannot even type on a public forum. What kind of behavior are we teaching little kids?
If a little kid dramatized that behavior in the classroom, what would the parents of other children do?
Personally, I’m aghast that a parent would expose their young children to that.
Name me a Drag Show where any child was even approached inappropriately.
Would you like a list of local preachers convicted of sexual misconduct?
Ban Minors in Church, not Drag Shows!
What’s your point? We’re all sinners and “preachers” convicted of misconduct? That does not make it right!