Judge Blocks Tennessee Law Protecting Children From Viewing Sexually Explicit Performances

A federal judge in Tennessee has blocked a law that was designed to shield children from being exposed to adult cabaret shows, including drag performances with explicit content.

The law, which was temporarily blocked by U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, has been deemed too vague and could potentially violate the First Amendment. Judge Parker expressed concern that the law’s broad language clashes with the First Amendment’s tight constraints and questioned whether it applies to private residences or national parks.

The law creates an offense for an adult cabaret performance taking place in public property or a location where viewers under 18 years can gain access. The law’s definition of adult cabaret performance involves male or female impersonators.

Sen. Jack Johnson, the Republican majority leader in the Tennessee Senate, stated that the law was proposed mainly to protect children from adult content. They were mortified by family-friendly drag shows that were not actually suitable for children.

This law was challenged in court by Friends of George’s, an LGBTQ theatre company from Memphis, that was going to have upcoming shows like “Drag Rocks” and “The Dragnificent Variety Show: The Gay Ole Opry.”

The organization argued that the law was not applied similarly, stating that the statute prohibited drag performers from wearing crop tops and skirts while performing, but it did not ban Tennessee Titans cheerleaders from performing identical routines in front of children.

Although some lawmakers introduced legislation last year after appearances of sexually explicit drag shows emerged in several regions, the district attorney for Democrats of Shelby County, Steve Mulroy, stated that he did not mind the injunction placed on the law, saying it would allow the court to establish the scope and constitutionality of the legislation.