2nd Bill on Drag Shows Passes Tennessee House, Would Require Permits and Age Limits
Last week, Tennessee was the most talked about state for its bid to become the first U.S. state to ban drag shows They also allow adult cabaret performers to perform in public. The legislature is considering another piece of legislation which could have an impact on private performances by adults.
This is the latest billpdf() A person would need to be able to “obtain a valid entertainer permit from the adult-oriented establishment board, in those jurisdictions with a board, prior to performing adult cabaret entertainment for compensation.”
However, not every Tennessee county has an adult entertainment board. Nashville, Memphis and others have one.
Nashville’s Sexually Oriented Business Licensing Board “has jurisdiction over the licensing, regulating and controlling of all sexually oriented establishments in Metropolitan Nashville.”
On Monday, the Tennessee House passed the legislation and it will now be discussed in the state Senate.
Clay Doggett from Republican State, the House sponsor of the bill, stated that it is yet another way to protect children against obscenity.
“All we’re doing here is stating if you are performing in a manner that is harmful to minors and receiving compensation, you will need a permit,” In the midst of a series of questions, he spoke out on the House floor.
A Democrat from the House claimed that the Legislature’s attention on drag performers amounts to a “circus” Instead, legislators need to be focused on the following: “mass shootings.”
It passed with an easy Republican supermajority and party-line vote. All 23 Democrats voted no, and 75 Republicans voted to send it to the state Senate.
Drag Permits & Under 18 Bans
This legislation would modify an existing existing law Information about adult-oriented establishments like adult bookstores and massage parlors.
Other parts of the bill require public, commercial, and private establishments to prohibit anyone younger than 18 years old from participating in adult cabaret entertainment.
A bill includes is what defines adult cabaret entertainment. “entertainment suitable for mature audiences, including entertainment erotic in nature, and featuring go-go dancers, exotic dancers, topless dancers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers.”
The bill doesn’t mention specific enforcement or penalties, nor was it discussed during hearings at the House.
Democrats Deny Bill is Hypocritical
The bill that targets drag performers was heavily criticised by Democrats throughout the chamber.
Rep. Sam McKenzie (a Democrat from Knoxville) was questioned at the City and Counties’ first hearing. Subcommittee The bill’s scope was it too wide? He wondered if, for example, wrestlers will be subject to this law, particularly if they wear tight or visible clothing.
Doggett claimed that wrestling is a theatrical production. It would also fall under the category of art as long as it was performed by wrestlers. “not doing anything harmful to minors.”
Senator McKenzie responded by stating that many minors are exposed to wrestlers in revealing or tight clothes. He stated that the committee should not tie itself to what could be a dangerous situation. “slippery slope,” The Legislature can use other mechanisms and means to safeguard children.
Rep. Harold Love Jr. from Nashville was also questioned by the Local Government Committee about why simulated violence during wrestling would not be included in the bill. This is based on the facts that “excessive violence” Is listed in the statute which defines what content would be “harmful to minors.”
Doggett stated that violence in wrestling was unacceptable. “artistic expression” It is “not real,” To which disapproval, other hearing participants shouted in reply.
The measure was criticized by some Democrats sitting on the House Floor.absurdAttack on LGBT Community
“I just want to point our attention to some hypocrisy that’s happening in this building right now,” Justin Jones (a Democrat from Nashville) said this. “We just voted to not have any type of regulation or any type of safety precautions around the Second Amendment, but now we have a bill to regulate drag shows. Drag shows are not a threat to our community—mass shootings are. I hope that we pay attention to the ridiculousness, the circus that is this body, where we’re now passing a bill to create a regulatory board of drag shows.”
Jones continued to criticize Republican coworkers for passing bills to preserve the Second Amendment and, in his view, also passed bills to restrict the First Amendment rights to freedom speech of Tennesseans.
He also criticized the permit section of the legislation, saying that it could amount to a state registry in which drag performers can be targeted. “even further.”
“This bill is bullying on bullying, and I believe that the Constitution is their permit to exercise the First Amendment,” Jones.
Doggett replied with a short statement.
“All I can say to that is a person who is not performing in a manner that is harmful to minors would not require license in this instance,” Doggett said.
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