Here’s the status of anti-flow bills in the United States

JEnnessy became the first state to outright ban drag shows in public Thursday after Gov. Bill Lee signed the law into law following a measure passed by the state Senate.

Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and more. including at least fourteen other states where drag shows have become the latest targets of conservative critics. . The language used in many of the bills is similar to a Tennessee bill that would ban “adult cabaret performances” in public places where minors can watch them. The Tennessee bill defines “adult cabaret” as “adult shows” that include “male or female impersonators.”

While the law does not outlaw all drag shows in Tennessee, advocates are still concerned about the bill’s broader impact on the queer community. “We are concerned that government officials could easily abuse this law to censor people based on their subjective views of what they think is right, violate protected free speech, and send a message to LGBTQ Tennesseans that ‘they are not welcome in our state.’ ACLU of Tennessee tweeted.

The bill signing also comes after Gov. Lee was criticized earlier this week for dressing in drag after a 1977 Franklin High yearbook photo of the governor in a dress surfaced on Reddit.

A spokesperson for Franklin High School told NBC News that the photo posted on Reddit “looks like Lee,” but noted that there was no name under the photo. Referring to the photo, a spokesperson for the governor told The Daily Beast, “The bill specifically protects children from lewd and sexual entertainment, and it is dishonest and disrespectful to confuse this important issue with frivolous school traditions. To Tennessee Families.”

Conservatives and far-right groups in the United States advocate similar regulations, which they believe will better protect children.

LGBTQ+ advocates say the bills are just the latest attack by conservatives since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

“While we’ve seen many states, including Oklahoma, advance abortion bans, we have hard-line lawmakers pushing their legislative agendas,” said Nicole McAfee, executive director of Oklahoma Freedom, an organization that advocates for queer communities around the world. state, TIME reported. “Unfortunately, (it’s) the next social battle for many of these people.”

Here’s what to know about the state of anti-trag bills across the country.

Arizona

Arizona’s drag ban describes drag shows as part of “adult performances.”

According to the Arizona Mirror, artists who perform for children under the age of 15 could face at least 10 years in prison and be required to register as sex offenders. People who allow minors to watch drag shows or even enter the venue where the show is taking place will also be punished.

Sen. Justin Wodsack said his state’s anti-drag bill was “crafted after consultation with anti-LGBTQ organizations, such as Gay Against Gays, who directly oppose the sexualization and teaching of children,” through hours of skits.

The bill was sent to the House.

Arkansas

In January, Arkansas Sen. Gary Stubblefield introduced Senate Bill 43 with explicit language that would have banned drag shows on public property around minors for the first time. .

Stubblefield said the rule would serve to better protect children from sexually explicit content, including hours of drag queen stories read by children in places like schools or libraries.

Drag artists believe that such bills will infringe on their freedom of expression. “Individual rights should never be constantly monitored and taken away,” Breyana Canaby, a 34-year-old flirt who recently moved to Oklahoma from Arkansas, told TIME. “We’re not here to hurt kids, we’re not trying to educate them or force them to do anything.”

In early February, state lawmakers removed language from a bill that would have specifically banned drag shows, choosing to limit “adult” programming. The bill was signed on February 27.

Idaho

Idaho state lawmakers introduced a bill on February 27 to ban cruising in public, the Idaho Statesman reports.

The bill would allow parents to sue event organizers and promoters who allow minors to watch “sexually suggestive” shows. Sexual behavior is defined as any movement with means that “exaggerate” sexual activities.

The bill goes to the House State Affairs Committee for a hearing.

Kansas

In Kansas, Senate Bill 149 was introduced in early February and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

The measure expands the “offense of promoting obscenity” to include performing drag shows in front of minors. They define drag as expressing a gender identity other than the one assigned at birth and “singing, lip-syncing, dancing, or otherwise performing.”

Kentucky

Kentucky’s state legislature voted Thursday to advance the bill against SB 115. This rule prohibits drag shows from being held on public property or where children can watch.

The bill will require a full Senate vote. If it is accepted, it will be sent to the chamber.

Missouri

In Missouri, lawmakers introduced House Bill 1364 on March 1. The bill would make it a criminal offense to attend, organize or permit an adult cabaret show on public property that includes drag shows.

The provision also makes it an offense to organize or permit an event class or any other event where “a drag queen … engages in other educational activities involving minors”.

It states that if a school district, charter school, or school employee or volunteer violates this proposed legislation, the school district or charter school will lose state funding.

The bill does not yet have a scheduled hearing.

Montana

Montana House Bill 359, which would ban minors from attending drag shows, passed the House on a preliminary vote Thursday, KTVH reports.

Rep. Braxton Mitchell, the bill’s sponsor, said, “Our Republican caucus strongly believes there is no such thing as a family show.

The draft law was amended to include attraction in the list of sexual acts. Drag companies are prohibited from admitting people under the age of 18.

Nebraska

Nebraska’s LB371, which would ban anyone under 19 from participating in drag shows, was first introduced in January. If alcoholic beverages are served at the exhibition, participation of persons under the age of 21 is also prohibited.

Senator Dave Moorman, who authored the bill, said the provision would help “protect children.”

Senator Megan Hunt later amended the bill to prohibit children from attending Bible studies, church camps or other religious programs. “The Legislature finds that religious leaders and clergy have a well-documented history of indoctrination and sexual abuse of children,” he added in the amendment.

Hunt also delayed the bill indefinitely.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma lawmakers last voted on Feb. 23 to send House Bill 2186 to the House floor. The bill provides for serious charges, fines of up to $20,000 and up to two years in prison for violators.

Community advocates fear that attacks on the drag community are just the beginning of legislation that will attack the queer community as a whole.

“A year ago they were talking about banning trans people from sports and they said (they) would stop there, but no, they didn’t,” Conner Coughlin previously said. , a 24-year-old dragster, TIME. “It’s scary to be in the red right now, but when you don’t have the resources to move, you have to dive in and keep fighting.”

Caroline from the South

On March 2, Senate Bill 585 was introduced, which would ban adult content from being viewed on public property and other places where it can be viewed by minors.

The text defined “male or female impersonators” as part of an “adult cabaret”.

Violators are guilty of a first-time misdemeanor, face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years in prison.

Texas

Texas is considering four bills targeting drag shows. These measures expand the definition of “gender-based business” to include venues that allow performers to express “the gender identity assigned to the performer at birth.”

According to the Texas Tribune, that could mean cafes or bookstores that host drag events would have to consider getting additional licenses and different taxes, or stop hosting drag performers.

West Virginia

In West Virginia, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 253, which would make it a crime to participate in an “adult cabaret performance” that takes place on “public property” or is performed in a place “where minors can see it.” »

“Male or female impersonators who provide sensual entertainment” fall into this category.

Those convicted of the felony can be fined up to $25,000 or serve up to five years in a state penitentiary.

It was introduced in the Senate in January, but no other major legislation passed.

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