A federal judge in Tennessee temporarily halted the state’s new law that criminalizes some drag performances.
Judge Thomas Parker cited constitutional protections of freedom of speech in issuing a temporary restraining order.
Parker wrote,
If Tennessee wishes to exercise its police power in restricting speech it considers obscene, it must do so within the constraints and framework of the United States Constitution.
The Court finds that, as it stands, the record here suggests that when the legislature passed this Statute, it missed the mark.”
Gov. Bill Lee signed the first-of-its-kind law ban on March 2. It’s an “adult cabaret entertainment” on public property or in locations where it could be viewed by minors.
Friends of George’s, Inc., which is an LGBTQ theater group based in Memphis, sued over the law. The theater group argued in a motion for the restraining order,
This law threatens to force a theatre troupe into a nightclub, because Tennessee legislators believe they have the right to make their own opinions about drag into law.
Plaintiff’s other option is to proceed as planned, knowing that the Friends of George’s drag performers could face criminal — even felony — charges.”
Friends of George’s next performance is April 14.
Tennessee became the first state to explicitly ban drag shows; a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the law. Here’s the status of anti-drag bills across the country https://t.co/cr425iPv2c
— TIME (@TIME) April 3, 2023
Drag Race girls speak out and say, STAY STRONG!
Watch.
(Photo, YouTube; via NBC News)
