The strong conservative movement in the United States against the LGTBQ community has given this Thursday another bang. Tennessee has become the first state in the country to outlaw and criminalize drag performances in public ownership or in places where they can be “seen by a person who is not an adult & rdquor;.
He Republican Governor Bill Lee, has signed a law approved only a few hours before in the Senate and last week by the Lower House. He has not issued any statement or announcement or held a public signing ceremony for the rule, the first of several legislative initiatives that have been proposed in conservative-ruled states. And those responsible deny that there is a discriminatory component, they assure that they focus only on “protect children of sexually explicit shows that are inappropriate& rdquor ;.
From misdemeanor to crime and up to six years in jail
The Tennessee rule will go into effect on July 1. He does not speak directly of drag but of “adult cabaret performances& rdquor ;, which are defined as those carried out by men who embody women and vice versa and which are equal to those of topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dances and stripteases. It establishes that anyone who carries out these activities on public property or before minors may face charges of a minor offencewhich may be accompanied by penalties of up to $2,500 and a maximum of 11 months in jail. If you reoffendcharges may be raised to Serious felony and the sorrows rise up to six years in prison and a $3,000 fine.
The Human Rights Campaign has denounced the Tennessee rule as “discriminatory” and tries to label as “dangerous & rdquor; to members of the LGBTQ community. He also criticizes that it is part of “a large scale attack” to that community.
An intensified crusade
The conservative crusade against drag shows started a long time ago, focusing especially on the acts of readings with children in libraries and bookstores that it carries out Drag Story Hour. Founded in 2015 in San Francisco, the group promotes events to encourage reading and celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Critics claim, without providing evidence, that they are used to “sexualize” to the kids. That line of attack were amplified by ultra media figures like Tucker Carlson of FoxNews, or Alex Jonesrecently sentenced in court for his conspiracy theories denying the killing of children at Sandy Hook school and that already in 2017 the idea began to spread, also without evidence, that drag artists took advantage of readings for inappropriate actions with children.
He last summer the protests intensified, that forced to suspend several of the readings. Far-right militia members Proud Boys (which has several defendants for the assault on the Capitol) interrupted one with homophobic and transphobic shouts. And while in Democratic cities like New York the authorities and citizen groups showed their support, the protests continued to grow.
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) registered 141 protests against drag dates last year, noting that they were becoming more violent, with incidents in 47 of the 50 states, including 20 in Texas alone. In some those who protested went armed.
In autumn the Republicans in Washingtoneven then in a minority in the lower house, presented a pBill entitled: “Stop the Sexualization of Children & rdquor;. and in several state legislatures Legislation also began to be considered. And the one in Tennessee has been the first to be ratified, but there are also others that are being considered or advancing in AArizona, Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, and Kentucky.Lee, the ruledr from Tennessee, was confronted Monday by an activist who presented him with a photo from 1977, during his time in high school, in which he appeared in drag. The governor said it was “ridiculous & rdquor; compare the photo with “sexualized entertainment in front of children & rdquor ;.
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