Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has caused controversy after a picture of him wearing a dress in high school was leaked online, coinciding with his pledge to sign an anti-drag bill in the state. The bill, passed by the House and soon to be signed by the governor, would prevent public drag and “adult cabaret” performances in locations that could be “viewed by a person who is not an adult”. However, the vague definition of “adult cabaret performances” has raised concerns among state LGBTQ+ activists that the law could be used to silence not only drag, but also transgender performers and even Pride events.
Critics of the bill have accused the governor of hypocrisy, given the old photo of him wearing a dress that has resurfaced online. The governor’s office responded to the photo by saying that it represented a “light-hearted school tradition,” and the governor himself, without confirming the photo was of him, dismissed any connection to sexualized entertainment in front of children.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has strongly criticized the bill, with legal director Sarah Warbelow calling it an act of spreading hate, misinformation, and extremism. She emphasized the importance of drag as a form of entertainment and a source of employment for many across the state. Warbelow also accused politicians of misrepresenting age-appropriate performances at a library instead of focusing on actual policy issues facing Tennesseans. The signing of the bill into law by Governor Lee is expected in the coming days, but the controversy surrounding the bill and the governor’s photo continues to generate debate and discussion.