On Friday, a federal judge in Memphis, Tennessee temporarily blocked a law restricting drag performances in public from going into effect. The law, signed by Republican Governor Bill Lee, aimed to restrict drag performances in public or in front of children, putting Tennessee at the forefront of a Republican-led effort to limit drag in at least 15 states in recent months.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, granted a temporary restraining order, stating that the law was likely “vague and overly-broad” in its restriction of speech, and that the state had failed to justify with a compelling interest the restrictions it aimed to impose.
The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed against the state by Friends of George’s, a Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group. The Tennessee bill was part of an upswing in recent months in Republican efforts to regulate the conduct of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people.
The law had sparked debate in Tennessee over whether drag is inherently a sexually explicit art form. Many performers and civil rights groups have condemned the proposed drag regulations, saying they are unconstitutional, redundant under existing obscenity laws, and would lead to further harassment and violence against gay and transgender people.
This ruling marks a big win for LGBTQ rights and civil rights groups, who have been fighting against the wave of Republican-led efforts to limit the rights of LGBTQ people. Several planned drag events were canceled over the winter after protests, and many venues felt forced to make previously family-friendly drag shows into adults-only events. The fight for the rights of LGBTQ people continues, but this ruling provides a glimmer of hope for those advocating for equality and inclusion.