In a significant legal development, a federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement of Tennessee’s anti-drag law against an upcoming Pride festival in Blount County. The festival, slated to take place on Saturday, had faced the looming threat of prosecution under the controversial law.
The anti-drag law, which classifies drag performances as “adult cabaret acts,” prohibits their occurrence on public property or in venues potentially accessible to minors. While a U.S. district court had previously declared the law unconstitutional, Blount County’s District Attorney General, Ryan Desmond, intended to apply the law to the Blount County Pride event. However, organizers of the festival, including headliner Matthew Lovegood, known by the stage name Flamy Grant, swiftly responded with a legal challenge.
Lovegood and Blount County Pride initiated legal proceedings by suing Desmond and other public officials, asserting that the district attorney’s intentions were an infringement on their First Amendment rights. They emphasized that Desmond’s actions sought to suppress their constitutionally protected speech and expression. Seeking a temporary restraining order, they aimed to prevent the enforcement of the anti-drag law against their event.
U.S. District Judge Ronnie Greer has granted the restraining order, recognizing the potential success of the plaintiffs’ suit and acknowledging the risk of “irreparable harm” should the anti-drag law be enforced. Notably, Greer highlighted that District Attorney Desmond appeared to acknowledge that the plaintiffs’ performances would not pose harm to children.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, representing the plaintiffs, hailed the court’s decision as a triumph for constitutionally safeguarded expression. The ruling underscores the protection of drag performances as a form of free speech under the First Amendment. As the legal battle progresses, the LGBTQ community stands strong in asserting their right to exist and celebrate their identity without restriction.
Blount County Pride’s president, Ari Baker, expressed relief over the court’s intervention, emphasizing the festival’s commitment to providing a secure space for LGBTQ individuals to connect and celebrate. With the festival approaching, the community eagerly anticipates a day of inclusivity, marked by a drag queen story hour, arts and crafts activities, and vibrant performances culminating in a concert by Flamy Grant.
In the broader context, this ruling echoes a similar outcome in Texas, where a federal judge recently halted the implementation of an anti-drag law. These legal victories resonate as affirmations of the enduring importance of First Amendment rights and the inclusive celebration of LGBTQ culture.