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| Judge Finds Tennessee Law Aimed at Restricting Drag Shows Unconstitutional | Judge Finds Tennessee Law Aimed at Restricting Drag Shows Unconstitutional |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A federal judge said late Friday that a law in Tennessee aimed at restricting drag shows was unconstitutional, saying it was overly broad and violated the First Amendment. | A federal judge said late Friday that a law in Tennessee aimed at restricting drag shows was unconstitutional, saying it was overly broad and violated the First Amendment. |
| The ruling is an initial victory for supporters of L.G.B.T.Q. rights after weeks of turmoil and confusion over the law’s language and how it would affect not only drag artists in the state, but also transgender, nonbinary and other gender-nonconforming people. Tennessee, which passed the law this year with the stated goal of protecting children, was among more than a dozen states that passed measures restricting L.G.B.T.Q. rights. | The ruling is an initial victory for supporters of L.G.B.T.Q. rights after weeks of turmoil and confusion over the law’s language and how it would affect not only drag artists in the state, but also transgender, nonbinary and other gender-nonconforming people. Tennessee, which passed the law this year with the stated goal of protecting children, was among more than a dozen states that passed measures restricting L.G.B.T.Q. rights. |
| Although only Shelby County, where the lawsuit was filed, is explicitly prevented from enforcing the law, the decision by Judge Thomas L. Parker of the Federal District Court in Memphis sent a clear signal about the statute that could affect enforcement of the law and lead to challenges elsewhere in Tennessee. | Although only Shelby County, where the lawsuit was filed, is explicitly prevented from enforcing the law, the decision by Judge Thomas L. Parker of the Federal District Court in Memphis sent a clear signal about the statute that could affect enforcement of the law and lead to challenges elsewhere in Tennessee. |
| The attorney general of Tennessee, Jonathan Skrmetti, who said he expected to appeal the decision, maintained that the ruling did not affect the rest of the state. “The Adult Entertainment Act remains in effect outside of Shelby County,” he said. He added that the law’s language “is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-established First Amendment precedent.” | The attorney general of Tennessee, Jonathan Skrmetti, who said he expected to appeal the decision, maintained that the ruling did not affect the rest of the state. “The Adult Entertainment Act remains in effect outside of Shelby County,” he said. He added that the law’s language “is rooted in the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-established First Amendment precedent.” |
| Gov. Bill Lee signed the law in early March, but it had been on hold after a Memphis theater company, Friends of George’s, challenged it in court and Judge Parker issued a temporary injunction. | |
| Friends of George’s, which frequently puts on productions featuring drag or L.G.B.T.Q. actors, argued that the wording of the law was vague and threatened its constitutional right to freedom of speech and its income from performances. |