Current:Home > StocksTexas law that restricted drag shows declared unconstitutional-LoTradeCoin
Texas law that restricted drag shows declared unconstitutional
View Date:2024-12-23 18:57:22
A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction against a Texas bill that restricted "sexually oriented performances" and has been criticized for limiting public drag performances in the state.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner said the law is an "unconstitutional restriction on speech" and "violates the First Amendment as incorporated to Texas by the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution."
A similar law in Tennessee, the first state to restrict drag performances in public, was also blocked and ruled unconstitutional.
The law was set to go into effect on Friday, Sept. 1, but a preliminary injunction halted its enforcement.
"LGBTQIA+ Texans, venue owners, performers, and our allies all came together to uphold free expression in our state — and we won," the ACLU of Texas said in a social media post. "This work isn’t done but for now we celebrate. Long live Texas drag!"
The Texas law doesn't specifically mention drag shows, but Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the bill would prohibit "sexualized performances and drag shows in the presence of a minor."
MORE: With anti-drag laws on the rise, drag queens reclaim the art as form of protest
The ACLU of Texas represented local LGBTQ groups, businesses and a performer in a lawsuit against state officials.
The "exhibition or representation, actual or simulated, of male or female genitals in a lewd state" as well as "the exhibition of sexual gesticulations using accessories or prosthetics that exaggerate male or female sexual characteristics" would have been restricted under the law.
Performances would be restricted from public properties or in the presence of someone under the age of 18.
MORE: Meet the team facing off against anti-LGBTQ groups at drag queen story hours
Under the law, businesses would have faced a $10,000 fine for hosting such a performance. Performers could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of $4,000.
Critics of the bill said traveling Broadway plays, theater performances, professional cheerleading routines and drag shows would have been impacted.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- What is ‘Doge’? Explaining the meme and cryptocurrency after Elon Musk's appointment to D.O.G.E.
- Jersey Shore’s Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Wife Lauren Expecting Baby No. 3
- Death of former NFL WR Mike Williams being investigated for 'unprescribed narcotics'
- Michigan mom sentenced up to 5 years in prison for crash into pond that killed her 3 sons
- Shawn Mendes quest for self-discovery is a quiet triumph: Best songs on 'Shawn' album
- Police chief in Massachusetts charged with insider trading will resign
- Sophia Loren, 89-year-old Hollywood icon, recovering from surgery after fall at her Geneva home
- Why Patrick Mahomes Felt “Pressure” Having Taylor Swift Cheering on Travis Kelce at NFL Game
- 'SNL' stars jokingly declare support for Trump, Dana Carvey plays Elon Musk
- Chinese gymnast Zhang Boheng wins men’s all-around at the Asian Games. The Paris Olympics are next
Ranking
- The Best Gifts for People Who Don’t Want Anything
- Lego drops prototype blocks made of recycled plastic bottles as they didn't reduce carbon emissions
- Minnesota teen last seen in 2021 subject of renewed search this week near Bemidji
- Taiwan factory fire kills at least 5 and injures 100 others
- Kentucky governor says investigators will determine what caused deadly Louisville factory explosion
- Chinese gymnast Zhang Boheng wins men’s all-around at the Asian Games. The Paris Olympics are next
- Eagles vs. Buccaneers, Bengals vs. Rams Monday Night Football highlights
- Police chief in Massachusetts charged with insider trading will resign
Recommendation
-
New 'Yellowstone' is here: Season 5 Part 2 premiere date, time, where to watch
-
Moscow court upholds 19-year prison sentence for Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny
-
Can an employee be fired for not fitting into workplace culture? Ask HR
-
Moscow court upholds 19-year prison sentence for Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny
-
Kalen DeBoer, Jalen Milroe save Alabama football season, as LSU's Brian Kelly goes splat
-
Nigeria’s government worker unions announce third strike in two months
-
India, at UN, is mum about dispute with Canada over Sikh separatist leader’s killing
-
A Nobel prize-winning immigrant's view on American inequality