On Thursday, the Tennessee Senate voted in favor of a bill that would restrict where certain drag shows can take place, marking the latest piece of legislation from Republican lawmakers in the state aimed at the LGBTQ community. The bill expands the definition of adult cabaret in Tennessee’s law to include “adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors”, and the legislation would then ban adult cabarets from taking place in public spaces or in a location where minors might be present. The bill was passed with 26 votes in favor and only Democrats opposing, with the Senate’s version being slightly different than a version moving through the House chamber.
Republicans like Senator Becky Massey claim that the bill was put in place to prevent the depiction of sexual acts in public spaces or where children may be present, though it has been criticized for misrepresenting drag shows. In Tennessee and across the country, drag has been cast in a false light by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Drag performances typically do not involve nudity or stripping, which are more common in burlesque, a separate form of entertainment.
Democratic Sen. Heidi Campbell said, “Leveraging fear of others may be politically advantageous, but it’s the antithesis of good governance,” during Thursday’s debate. Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, a Republican, declined to directly answer questions on how the legislation would be enforced, particularly if it would affect drag brunches, performers who wear drag attire during pride events, or grooms who wear kilts during wedding ceremonies, and chose to read the legislation and definitions in current law instead. The attention now moves to the House, which is debating a slightly different version of the bill, and it is unknown whether House members will amend their legislation to align with the Senate.
