Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently signed two massive bills into law that will almost certainly result in lawsuits.
The first bill outlaws transgender medical care for children, as other governors have done around the country.
The second measure, on the other hand, is a first of its sort in that it prohibits drag acts from public locations and restricts them to age-appropriate venues. That is, when the law goes into effect, it will be unlawful to bring children to drag events.
MASSIVE NEWS: Governor @BillLeeTN just signed into law the 2 bills we’ve fought so hard for. Taking kids to drag shows, giving them sex change surgeries, hormones and puberty blockers are all illegal now. Great work @SenJohnson @WilliamLamberth @LandonStarbuck @MattWalshBlog! pic.twitter.com/y5S67tqucS
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) March 2, 2023
More from the Tennesseean:
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a blanket prohibition on gender-affirming health treatment for transgender children into law on Thursday, despite demands for him to reject the bill and threats of pending litigation.
The new health legislation prohibits the use of drugs such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy to treat any underlying cause of gender dysphoria among Tennessee children who identify as transgender or nonbinary. Surgeries, which were formerly uncommon in Tennessee, are also prohibited.
Youngsters who are presently on the drugs will have until March 31, 2024 to discontinue therapy. The legislation, which was pushed through by the legislature’s Republican supermajority during this year’s legislative session, will go into effect this summer.
The rule was precisely crafted to prohibit not a single medicine, but rather medical therapy for an underlying diagnosis: gender dysphoria, as well as “any mental ailment, illness, handicap, or deformity.”
Lee also approved a new rule that restricts “adult-oriented” entertainment, including “male and female impersonators,” to age-restricted places on public land. The bill was introduced in response to a slew of scandals surrounding drag events around the state.
Senate Bill 3 prohibits “adult-oriented performances that are damaging to kids,” as defined by Tennessee’s obscenity statute.
The law will be implemented on July 1.
It’s unclear how the rule would be implemented, but it might provide another route for contesting drag show performances in court. Violations of the statute are classified as a Class A misdemeanor on the first offense and a Class E felony on the second or subsequent crimes.
I’m thinking of packing my belongings and moving to Tennessee! Really, these two measures are desperately needed, and I hope that other states follow Tennessee’s lead in prohibiting drag shows for minors. Congratulations, Tennessee.