A judge in Tennessee ruled the drag show ban was unconstitutional, military leaders cancel a drag show at air force base in Nevada, and Texas' governor banned gender-affirming care for minors.
Federal Judge Rules Drag Show Ban Unconstitutional
According to CNN, US District Court Judge Thomas Parker ruled on June 2 that Tennessee’s ban on drag shows was unconstitutional.
“As a matter of text alone, the [Adult Entertainment Act] is a content, and viewpoint-based restriction on speech. The AEA was passed for the impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally-protected speech,” Parker, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, said in the ruling.
Friends of George’s is a theater company based in Memphis that produces drag shows. They sued in March in protest of the law. Due to the ruling, Shelby County, where Memphis is located, cannot enforce the law.
“WE WON!” Friends of George’s tweeted. “Judge Parker has declared Tennessee’s anti-drag law unconstitutional!”
Military Leaders Cancel Drag Show At Air Force Base
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Photo via www.defense.gov.
Pentagon leaders canceled a drag show that was approved by the Air Force and scheduled for June 1 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, according to NBC News. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley informed the Air Force that funding drag shows on bases is against Pentagon policy. They stated the show should be canceled or held off base.
“I can confirm the Nellis commander informed the private organization that the drag event would have to be canceled or relocated to an off-base location,” an anonymous source told NBC News.
Governor Bans Gender-Affirming Care For Minors
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Photo via wikimedia.org.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 on June 2, which bans gender-affirming care for minors, according to the Texas Tribune.
“Cruelty has always been the point,” Emmett Schelling, executive director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas, said. “It’s not shocking that this governor would sign SB14 right at the beginning of Pride [Month]; however this will not stop trans people from continuing to exist with authenticity — as we always have.”
The bill bans transgender youth from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or sex reassignment surgery. Minors already receiving such care will have to discontinue their treatment.
Several organizations have stated they will pursue legal action such as the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal and the Transgender Law Center.
“Transgender people have always been here and will always be here,” said Ash Hall, policy and advocacy strategist at the ACLU of Texas. “Our trans youth deserve a world where they can shine alongside their peers, and we will keep advocating for that world in and out of the courts.”
