The state of Tennessee is waging a war against the queer community. In March of this year, Governor Bill Lee signed a controversial piece of legislation that banned drag performances in public spaces, where children could potentially be exposed. In another direct affront to the LGBTQ+ community, Lee signed a bill prohibiting gender-affirming care for transgender minors. These two bills are causing many transgender and queer youth to question the continued safety of their community in the conservative-leaning state.
Drag has historically challenged forms of oppression against queer individuals and opposed normative gender roles through performance. Tennessee legislators claim that passing the (AEA) Adult Entertainment Act will protect children from “hypersexual” and “obscene” entertainment. Individuals found guilty of breaking this new law would face a misdemeanor charge, while repeat offenders could face felony charges. Criminalizing drag would have a negative impact on Nashville Pride, essentially turning it into an adults-only event and restricting certain performances and outfits. This summer, Pride festival organizers throughout Tennessee experienced unprecedented pushback on permitting from state officials.
Friends of George’s, A Memphis drag company, filed an appeal against the AEA and were temporarily victorious when Federal Judge Thomas L. Parker of Memphis’ district court granted a temporary injunction. Parker found that the bill’s broadness and alleged violation of the First Amendment right to free speech made it unconstitutional. Unfortunately, this appeal was only effective in Shelby County where the appeal was filed, and could not be applied to the rest of the state. This is because Tennessee’s general attorney cannot enforce Judge Parker’s decision in Shelby County, meaning that future attempts to impose the drag ban throughout the state would most likely be challenged as well.
In an ironic revelation, a high school yearbook photo showing Governor Lee in drag was leaked in the midst of the initial controversy following the passing of the AEA. Individuals online are condemning Lee’s blatant hypocrisy.
Nashville’s very own drag bar and club, Play, was classified as a strip club under AEA statutes. Todd Roman, one of the owners of Play responded to the reclassification, saying, “We are not now, nor have we ever been an adult entertainment business. It’s extremely offensive to have our girls categorized in the same way that you would a stripper.”
The proposed legislation attacking drag performance is just one of many examples of red states regressing on LGBTQ rights, a trend that has grown in strength as the 2024 elections draw closer.
Photo by Natalia Blauth from Unsplash
