{"id":624644,"date":"2023-04-01T13:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-01T18:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/01\/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-tennessees-law-limiting-drag-shows\/"},"modified":"2023-04-01T13:15:00","modified_gmt":"2023-04-01T18:15:00","slug":"federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-tennessees-law-limiting-drag-shows","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/04\/01\/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-tennessees-law-limiting-drag-shows\/","title":{"rendered":"Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Tennessee\u2019s Law Limiting Drag Shows"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Tennessee\u2019s first-in-the-nation law placing strict limits on drag shows just hours before it was set to go into effect, siding with a group that filed a lawsuit claiming the statute violates the First Amendment.<\/p>\n

The decision comes after Memphis-based Friends of George\u2019s, an LGBTQ+ theater company, filed the federal lawsuit Monday against Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the state.<\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker issued the temporary injunction after hearing arguments on both sides Thursday.<\/p>\n

Parker wrote that the state has failed to make a compelling argument as to why Tennessee needed the new law, adding that the court also agrees the statute is likely vague and overly broad.<\/p>\n

The word \u201cdrag\u201d doesn\u2019t appear in the new law, which instead changed the definition of adult cabaret in Tennessee to mean \u201cadult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors.\u201d Furthermore, \u201cmale or female impersonators\u201d are now classified as a form of adult cabaret, akin to strippers and topless, go-go and exotic dancers.<\/p>\n

The law banned adult cabaret performances from public property or anywhere minors might be present. Performers who break the law risk being charged with a misdemeanor or a felony for a repeat offense.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe law prohibits a drag performer wearing a crop top and mini skirt from dancing where minors might see it, but does not prohibit a Tennessee Titans cheerleader wearing an identical outfit from performing the exact same dance in front of children,\u201d the initial complaint contends.<\/p>\n

Parker also listed concerns aligning with the group\u2019s argument that the law was overly broad, questioning the location specifications of a cabaret entertainment venue that might be viewed by a minor.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes a citizen\u2019s private residence count? How about a camping ground at a national park?\u201d Parker wrote. \u201cUltimately, the Statute\u2019s broad language clashes with the First Amendment\u2019s tight constraints.\u201d<\/p>\n

The complaint also details the efforts last year to block a drag show at a park in Jackson, west of Nashville, as part of a Pride festival. A legal complaint spearheaded by Republican state Rep. Chris Todd and Republican state Sen. Ed Jackson sought to prevent the show, forcing organizers to reach a settlement to hold the event indoors with an age restriction.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter abusing the state courts to violate the First Amendment rights of Jackson Pride, Rep. Todd \u2018was asked to come up with legislation that would make this much more clear\u2019 \u2014 that drag performances in front of children are a violation of Tennessee law,\u201d the complaint argues.<\/p>\n

Parker referenced Todd\u2019s actions in his Friday decision, saying the state attorney general\u2019s office failed to give a clear answer on the purpose of the new law given Tennessee\u2019s current obscenity laws.<\/p>\n

During Thursday\u2019s hearing, Mulroy told the judge that he didn\u2019t object to a temporary restraining order.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere has been much concern and confusion about the law from the community,\u201d Mulroy said in a statement to The Associated Press. \u201cThis will allow the court to clarify the scope, application, and constitutionality of the statute. It\u2019s important to understand the scope of this law so that it doesn\u2019t have a harmful effect on constitutionally protected expression.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the attorney general\u2019s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Friday.<\/p>\n

The Tennessee drag law marks the second major proposal targeting LGBTQ+ people passed by state lawmakers this year. Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law GOP-backed legislation banning most gender-affirming care.<\/p>\n

Lee has faced criticism for approving the anti-drag show law, particularly since a photo surfaced of him as a high school senior dressed in women\u2019s clothing in 1977.<\/p>\n

Lee called comparing the two issues \u201cridiculous.\u201d When asked for specific examples of inappropriate drag shows taking place in front of children, Lee did not cite any, but said he was concerned about protecting children.<\/p>\n

Contact us<\/strong> at le*****<\/span>@**<\/span>me.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>
\n IMBERLEE KRUESI \/ AP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NASHVILLE, Tenn. \u2014 A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked Tennessee\u2019s first-in-the-nation law placing strict limits on drag shows just hours before it was set to go into effect, siding with a group that filed a lawsuit claiming the statute violates the First Amendment. The decision comes after Memphis-based Friends of George\u2019s, an LGBTQ+ theater […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":624645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[342,534,559],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-624644","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-federal","8":"category-financial","9":"category-judge"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=624644"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/624644\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/624645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=624644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=624644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=624644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}