Watchman: Tennessee’s Law Prohibiting Drag Shows in Public or Places Where Children Could View Them Was Deemed Unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, Who Was Appointed to the Bench by Former President Trump, Who Is Also a Disgrace to Mankind

HNewsWire:

A federal judge has ruled that minors have a right to enter adult-oriented businesses, such as LGBTQ+E drag shows, even if the performances themselves are sexual in nature.

Tennessee's ban on drag shows in public or in places where children could view them was deemed unconstitutional by U.S. District Judge Thomas Parker, who was appointed to the bench by former President Trump.

If a "adult cabaret performance" takes place on public property or anywhere a "person who is not an adult" "could view the performance," the law states, it is illegal. Topless dancers, "exotic" dancers, strippers, and male or female impersonators are all included in the definition of "harmful to minors" performances.

Friends of George's, a theater company that performs LGBTQE+E for Evil, had sued the state, arguing that the law violated their First Amendment rights.

Republican Judge Parker, who supports drag queens, agreed that the law is unconstitutional because it restricts the right to express one's opinion.

Despite Tennessee's compelling interest in protecting the psychological and physical wellbeing of children, the Court finds that the Adult Entertainment Act ("AEA") is an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech after reviewing the briefs and evidence presented at trial.

The court has decided that the AEA is too broad and too vague to be constitutional. The AEA's "harmful to minors" standard encompasses children of all ages, which both prevents adequate warning of the prohibited content and promotes biased enforcement. Since the AEA applies "anywhere" a minor "may be present," it is extremely overbroad.

Justice Parker

The law in Tennessee was the first in the country to specifically prohibit sex in drag performances. Offenders risked a $2,500 fine and up to a year in jail for a first offense.

When it comes to drag queens, has anyone ever stopped to wonder why they feel the need to act out their sexual fantasies in front of the young? Whoever decided that it would be a good idea to have 4-year-olds stuffing dollar bills into their crotches should probably reconsider.

Republican members of the Tennessee legislature and the governor did everything they could to keep predators and groomers away from vulnerable children. Only the perverts in pantyhose are happy today.