Legislation designed to restrict where some drag shows can take place passed the Tennessee Senate Thursday. The bill classifies 'male and female impersonators' as adult cabaret performers and bans 'adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors.'
"Is that who we want to align ourselves with?" Campbell asked the Senate on Thursday.
If signed into law, the legislation would criminalize a first offense as a misdemeanor. A second offense would be a Class E felony, whichThe attention now moves to the House, which is debating a slightly different version. It’s unknown whether House members will amend their legislation to align with the Senate.The law could take effect as early as April 1 if passed by the House and signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle last week questioned the potential for unintended consequences with the bill, asking if local professional wrestlers or major artists such as Miley Cyrus could be arrested under the law. Nashville business owner David Taylor criticized the bill as unnecessary. Taylor owns several businesses that host drag shows, which he said are already subject to"aggressively enforced" state liquor laws that ban nudity and simulated sex acts, and drag performers have never been considered adult entertainers under those laws.
Taylor also criticized the vagueness of what content might be considered harmful, which Johnson acknowledged would be subject to discretion from prosecutors.
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