Tennessee Governor Bill Lee (R) this month signed a bill designed to keep drag shows and other debauched performances away from children. Putting Kids First, approved with a vote of 74-19, prohibits “adult cabaret performances” in venues were children may be present.
The term “cabaret” refers to any show featuring “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, [and] male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest,” notes National Review.
Prohibited content is further defined by the state’s pre-existing obscenity law, which is based on the US Supreme Court’s Miller test.
Moving forward, drag shows and other adult-oriented performances in the state of Tennessee must be held in age-restricted venues. Violations will be considered a Class A misdemeanor and those responsible will face fines of up to $2,500 and up to 1 year in prison. Repeated violations will be punished with fines up to $3,000 and prison sentences up to 6 years.
“This is a commonsense child-safety bill,” says Tennessee State Representative Chris Todd (R), and is just the sort of legislation we need as Democrats continue to insert queer theory and other liberal propaganda into school curricula.
In response to critics who view the bill as an attack against the LGBTQ community, Senate Majority Leader and bill sponsor Jack Johnson (R) made it clear the bill is not specifically aimed at drag shows:
“The intent of the legislation is just to simply say that you cannot have sexually explicit entertainment…in a public venue where kids might be present,” explains Johnson, who introduced the bill after he was asked to stop a “family-friendly” drag show from taking place in a public park during a Pride event in Jackson. “It gives confidence to parents that they can take their kids to a public or private show and will not be blindsided by a sexualized performance.”
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Exposing the nation’s most vulnerable demographic to sexually-charged performances such as drag shows is psychologically damaging and should be considered child abuse.
As Washington Times contributor Cheryl Chumley writes, the goals of those supporting drag shows and other deviant displays are not about acceptance or tolerance. “It’s about flipping norms and flipping the middle finger at traditional family and biblically based values. It’s about tearing down societal standards and bringing about a new culture that supposedly embraces everything – which is to say, stands for nothing.”
Author’s Note: I hope other states follow Tennessee’s example and continue to put the safety of our children above Democrats backwards ideas about “inclusivity.”
Sources:
Tennessee puts children first with drag queen ban
Tennessee passes controversial draw show bill
Tennessee takes lead in Republican effort to restrict drag shows