NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tennessee's version of not allowing drag queens and kings in public settings has been declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in Memphis, according to a ruling filed late Friday night.
The ruling was determined based on the First Amendment and freedom of speech.
The suit started with Friends of George's, Inc, a nonprofit organization based in Memphis that produces drag-centric performances, comedy sketches and plays. This came after the legislature created a bill that Gov. Bill Lee quickly signed into law that restricted adult cabaret performances, which includes exotic dancers, strippers and female impersonators, in public spaces and in the presence of children. Those found in violation could have been punished by a fine of up to $2,500 and or up to a year in jail. The law became known as the Adult Entertainment Act.
Friends of George's sued, and a judge filed a temporary restraining order ever since to figure out the merits of the case.
"The Tennessee General Assembly can certainly use its mandate to pass laws that their communities demand," Judge Thomas L. Parker wrote in his ruling. "But that mandate as to speech is limited by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which commands that laws infringing on the Freedom of Speech must be narrow and well-defined. The AEA is neither."
The law was supposed to take effect July 1. It's not clear if the Tennessee Attorney General will appeal the case to a higher court.
Mushroom_Tip on June 3rd, 2023 at 18:11 UTC »
For all the conservative rage about their rights there sure are a lot of judges striking down conservative legislation for infringing on people's freedom.
I see a lot of conservatives saying the 2nd amendment is there to defend the first. Maybe we need to start arming drag queens against these first-amendment hating conservatives.
Tonyhillzone on June 3rd, 2023 at 15:44 UTC »
I thought freedom of expression was a protected right in the US. How did anyone allow the ban to come into effect in the first place?
WhnWlltnd on June 3rd, 2023 at 14:29 UTC »
This kind of legislation is just such a waste of time, effort, and money. They could be creating laws that actually help their constituents, but they don't have any real solutions to any of the problems they face.