Tennessee bans drag shows and trans treatments for minors

Tennessee is putting an end to allowing drag shows to be performed in public places where they can be viewed by minors. Republican Governor Bill Lee signed a law banning these obscene performances in public places, places of worship, or where they can be viewed by children. Tennessee is the first state to legally protect minors from having to watch these crude performances.

A few days ago, the Tennessee General Assembly passed SB3, a bill sponsored by Republican legislators Chris Todd and Jack Johnson, which would make it a crime for "a person to engage in an adult cabaret performance on public property or in a place where it may be viewed by persons other than adults."

Beginning April 1, when the new rule takes effect, violators can be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a $2,500 fine and one year in prison. Repeat offenders will face a financial penalty of $3,000 and prison sentences of up to six years.

Trans treatments banned for minors

On the other hand, Lee signed another law that will go into effect on July 1 banning sex-change surgeries on minors and puberty-blocking treatments and hormones. Tennessee is the fourth state to enact this ban in 2023 after Utah, South Dakota, and Mississippi.

The Republican-majority state Senate passed this bill which was sponsored by Jack Johnson a few days ago. The Republican legislator assured that this law is designed to protect minors who, many times, are not aware of what they are doing or are influenced by outside interests: