In recent weeks, Vice Mayor Linda Moore has faced a coordinated smear campaign led by Moms for Liberty and amplified by far-right blogs. Their accusations center on a Pride Tea Dance held at Moore’s establishment, The Kilted Mermaid; a beloved local venue known for its inclusive programming and support of the LGBTQ+ community.
The event in question, held annually for the past five years, was clearly divided into two segments: a family-friendly teatime and a separate, adults-only drag performance later in the evening. Despite this, critics circulated a photo of a performer in lingerie, taken during the adult portion, and falsely claimed that minors were present. They also exploited a video of a child interacting with a drag queen in appropriate attire during the earlier segment, sharing the child’s image online without parental consent to stoke outrage and further their agenda.
The Response
When Moms for Liberty announced plans to demand Vice Mayor Linda Moore’s resignation at the July 22 City Council meeting, we knew we had to show up. As identified by most speakers before the City Council, Linda has always stood up for our values; protecting the environment, championing inclusion, and representing every Vero Beach resident, no matter their background. Democratic Executive Committe Member, Linda Levine, was among the dozens of community members to speak in support of Moore and against the blatant bullying and misinformation that brought us to this moment
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Surrounded by a room full for support, Linda Moore made it clear: not only will she not resign, but she continues to stand firm in her commitment to the rights of all Vero Beach residents to express themselves freely and safely.
The Developments Unfortunately, Moms for Liberty had already been well on their way to escalating the issue, and took their three minutes of public comment to break the news that attorney General, James Uthmeier has issued a subpoena of records from Moore and her establishment. Now this issue has made national headlines
The Facts Let’s be clear: no existing laws were broken, and no children were witnessed to be exposed to inappropriate content. Florida’s so-called “Protection of Children Act,” often cited in these attacks, has been blocked by federal courts for being overly broad and unconstitutional. The Attorney General’s investigation has yet to cite any specific violation
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