TN General Assembly passes bill prohibiting hosting drag shows in public places where kids may be

The Tennessee General Assembly passed a bill 74 - 19 that would make it illegal for drag shows to be hosted in public venues or in any places where minors might be present.

The bill makes it illegal to host “an adult cabaret performance” where children may be present. Cabaret performances are defined as those featuring “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, [and] male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest.”

As the bill states, anyone hosting or performing in a drag show where children are present would be hit with a  class A misdemeanor, subject to a fine of up to $2,500 and up to one year in prison. Obviously, it would also include other lewd performances. Any additional violations would increase the charges to a class E felony which carries up to six years prison time and fines up to $3,000.

The Tennessee House passed the bill on Thursday along with HB1, which bans gender-reassignment surgery [aka genital mutilation] for minors. The bill specifically barred “hormone or puberty blockers” claiming to be aimed at helping “gender dysphoric” youth as opposed to waiting for their brains to mature to a point where they can make better life decisions.

Matt Walsh of The Daily Wire — whose investigative reporting in October 2022 revealed widespread abuses at Vanderbilt University’s transgender clinic, leading to a halt on all gender-reassignment surgeries for minors — applauded the decision. Walsh resides in Nashville and is best known for his documentary "What is a Woman?"

“The Tennessee legislature has now passed the bill banning child mutilation in the state. We’re fighting. We’re winning. And we aren’t even close to done,” Walsh tweeted.

Of course it should go without saying that LGBTQ groups condemned the legislation, making the illogical argument that it endangered young people. The Tennessee Equality Project is one such group that makes the argument that if children aren't allowed to "transition," i.e., have their genital mutilated or removed, those kids suffering from gender dysphoria would become suicidal. But if that was the case why didn't the suicide rate spike before it became popular to "transition" kids? So far, it hasn't changed.

“The House took life-saving healthcare options away from trans youth and their families and ignored the 1st Amendment by passing HB1 and HB9. Almost 300 organizations, congregations, businesses have spoken out against them. Governor Lee should veto them,” the group tweeted Thursday afternoon.

It sounds as if the Tennessee Equality Project confused 'life-saving' with 'life-altering.'

Meanwhile, both bills are headed to the desk of Tennessee governor Bill Lee, who is expected to sign them into law.

To date, 15 states have also introduced legislation that doesn't allow drag shows in public venues. This will have an effect on restaurants, bars and public libraries that feature "drag queen story hours."

It's beginning to sound like the ship is turning around to the right, and that's a good thing as I see it.

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