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Tennessee has become the first state to enact a law this year prohibiting sexually explicit drag shows where they may be viewed by children, reacting to concerns about the upswing of drag queens entertaining kids in schools and public libraries.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 3 into law Thursday without fanfare after signaling his support earlier, saying it was important to ensure that children were not “potentially exposed to sexualized entertainment, to obscenity.”
The bill bans “adult cabaret entertainment,” including “topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators,” engaging in performances seen as “harmful to minors” on public property or where a non-adult could watch them.
“This bill gives confidence to parents that they can take their kids to a public or private show and will not be blindsided by a sexualized performance,” tweeted the bill’s sponsor, Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.
The law takes effect April 1. A first offense would be a misdemeanor, while subsequent violations would result in felony charges.
