VERO BEACH — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has launched a formal investigation into Vero Beach Vice Mayor Linda Moore, accusing her of allowing children to be exposed to a “sexualized performance” at an LGBTQ+ event hosted at her restaurant last month.
The probe centers on a “Pride Tea Dance” held June 29 at the Kilted Mermaid, a popular craft beer and wine bar owned by Moore. The event was advertised on social media as “all ages welcome.”
Uthmeier’s office issued a subpoena to Moore and the Kilted Mermaid on July 8, demanding surveillance footage, employee schedules, performer contracts, and guest lists from the event. In a statement released Tuesday, the attorney general claimed there is evidence that adult performers wore “revealing attire and burlesque outfits while interacting with the children,” potentially violating state laws designed to protect minors from explicit content.
“In Florida, we don’t sacrifice the innocence of children for the perversions of some demented adults,” Uthmeier said, emphasizing that the Office of Statewide Prosecution is examining the “extent of the content and exposure to children.”
Moore, who has served on the Vero Beach City Council since 2022 and owns the Kilted Mermaid with her husband, pushed back against the allegations during a heated council meeting on July 22. She described the event as a longstanding annual celebration “rooted in LGBTQ+ history,” insisting it was divided into two parts: a family-friendly afternoon gathering followed by a later drag show.
“It’s a family-friendly event, and then once the drag show actually starts, we tell the parents who have small children that they can’t stay for the show,” Moore said, adding that no nudity or explicit acts occurred and that the performances were merely “a little racy.” Despite the scrutiny, she vowed to host the event again next year and dismissed calls for her resignation. “If you’re going to ask me to resign, it’s not going to happen,” she said at the meeting.
The investigation appears to stem from complaints by local conservative activists, including Jennifer Pippin, chair of the Indian River County chapter of Moms for Liberty. Pippin posted photos and videos from the event on social media, alleging that children were present throughout the night and exposed to performers in lingerie.
Not everyone agrees with the backlash. Supporters, such as local resident Barbara Ruddy, defended Moore during public comments, calling her an “asset to the community” who fosters inclusivity.
“There is a place for everyone at Linda’s table,” Ruddy said, referencing the bar’s welcoming atmosphere. Moore echoed that sentiment, noting the Kilted Mermaid isn’t a “gay bar” but a neighborhood spot that supports all community members, with events like drag queen bingo continuing as planned.
The legal foundation for the probe remains murky. Uthmeier’s office referenced Florida’s Protection of Children Act, a 2023 law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that targets venues admitting minors to “adult live performances” — often interpreted as aimed at drag shows. However, federal courts have blocked the law, ruling it likely unconstitutional on free speech grounds. Moore herself questioned the subpoena’s validity, pointing out it doesn’t specify any crime.
The city council took no action against her at Tuesday’s meeting, and the investigation is ongoing, with Moore set to appear in a Tampa courtroom on Aug. 8.
