18-State Coalition Backs Tennessee In Anti-Drag Law Ruling Appeal
Image Credit: tnwd.uscourts.gov & scag.gov
The Center Square [By Jon Styf] –
Eighteen states have joined to file an amicus brief supporting Tennessee in its appeal of a ruling on its drag show law.
The amicus brief comes as Tennessee is appealing a ruling against the law to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The law was blocked by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee after it was contested by Friends of George’s.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson led the coalition that also includes Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.
“Protecting children from obscene and lewd behavior is not a new idea. We need to let kids be kids, and the state has legal authority to ensure their protection,” Wilson said. “I believe the Court wrongly ruled against the law, and I’m happy to lead a coalition of support for the law on appeal.”
A federal judge ruled the law to limit public drag show performances as an unconstitutional restriction on freedom of speech and ruled the restrictions were unconstitutional vague.
The law bans drag performances from public property and requires the performances to only take place in age-restricted venues.
The outlawed performances are those that include “nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence or sadomasochistic abuse.”
The states’ amicus brief argues states do have the authority to restrict performances.
“… The district court disregarded decades of precedent that respects the role of legislatures—and state legislatures in particular—in shaping public policy,” the brief states. “The Tennessee legislature did not act with an impermissible purpose, and the Court’s holding to the contrary undermines basic principles of separation of powers. The judgment of the district court should be reversed.”
About the Author: Jon Styf, The Center Square Staff Reporter – Jon Styf is an award-winning editor and reporter who has worked in Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan in local newsrooms over the past 20 years, working for Shaw Media, Hearst and several other companies. Follow Jon on Twitter @JonStyf.
Please start listing the judge’s names. They need to be called out. They hide behind anonymity. They need to be exposed as Leftists.
District Judge Thomas L. Parker
The Judge was District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
I for one have been appalled by some people’s views on restricting bad behavior. This law was passed to protect our children from those adults that have a much broader sense than the majority of what is permissible in public. I personally do not want to see lewd or highly sexualized performances taking place on our streets. Especially if there are children and minors present. How hard is it for these judges to understand that? Do they not have some sense of right and wrong? If they fall in the latter category, they need to be removed from office.
Got WAAY too many “judges” serving lucifer.