Bill To Ban “Adult Cabaret Performances” Where Kids May Be Present Progresses Through TN House

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

A bill designed to restrict where drag shows can take place in Tennessee is progressing through the House after being heard by the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday.

House Bill 0030, sponsored by Representative Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski-District 70), passed the committee with a voice vote. Three representatives asked to be recorded as voting against the bill: Representative Sam McKenzie (D-Knoxville-District 15), Representative Johnny Shaw (D-Bolivar-District 80), and Representative Dwayne Thompson (D-Cordova-District 96). 

Doggett presented an amendment to the bill that would define what adult cabaret entertainment is, put a licensure requirement in place for individuals to be considered adult cabaret performers, and require that all attendees of adult cabaret performances be 18 years of age or older.

Representative Larry Miller (D-Memphis-District 88) started off the period of questions by asking Doggett just how “private” would be defined. The bill states that public, private, or commercial establishments cannot allow a person younger than 18 to attend. Doggett noted that this did not include the “home of a private individual.”

Representative Johnny Shaw argued that it should be a parent’s responsibility to determine whether their children should attend or not, noting that he was not comfortable “with legislation that gets into taking the right of a parent or anybody’s rights when it comes to life itself.”

Following Shaw, Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro-District 34) thanked Doggett for bringing the legislation, citing a sexually explicit performance that took place last year in a Rutherford County city park with minors present.

“I would hope that parents who brought their kids to see this didn’t know this was going to happen on the stage…at some point the state has to come in to protect children,” Rudd stated.

When Representative Sam McKenzie asked for clarification of the term “similar entertainers,” Doggett deferred to legal services. After going over the included definitions, Josh Houston noted that anything that seems like it would go with the other things already listed would be included in that definition.

Representative Harold Love (D-Memphis-District 58) then asked a question previously considered in the House Cities and Counties Subcommittee. He asked if the wrestling that Nashville was seeking to bring to the city would fall under the category of “harmful to minors” because of the “excessive violence.” 

Doggett responded that it would not because wrestling shows are “considered artistic, theatrical performances.”

With no other questions from the committee, a voice vote was taken, passing the bill if amended. The bill will move on to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee. 

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com