GOP Legislator Steps Up To Stop Jackson “Family-Friendly Drag Show” (Update 10.10.22)
***Update 10.10.22 – “Family-Friendly” Drag Show is now an 18+ event.***
Image Credit: JacksonTN.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Lawmakers in Madison County of members of the First United Methodist Church have filed a request for injunction against the city of Jackson, TN to suspend the portion of a Jackson Pride event this weekend that includes a “family-friendly drag show.”
The announcement for the event, scheduled for this Saturday from 11AM – 10PM Central time at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, listed the “family-friendly drag show” as part of the agenda.
Republican Representatives Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) along with Senator Ed Jackson (R-Jackson-District 27) are leading the effort to stop the all-ages drag show.
Todd has publicly spoken against the event and is now challenging it on a legal basis.
Todd said in an interview with the Jackson Sun, “This community has risen up over the drag queen show announcement, and all of the information that’s been shared about what drag queen shows involve. And especially the fact that this is touted as a family-friendly event! Its obvious children will be present — I believe that in itself violates state law.”
The request for injunction is asking that a judge prohibit the drag show and declare Jackson Pride’s use of the center to be public nuisance and further prevent the organization from using the facility in the future.
Todd told the Tennessean, “It was certainly the intent of lawmakers years ago when they put restrictions on these things that minors not view these shows at all, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. I think people have had that common-sense realization that this is the case, and so this felt like the right thing to do — to file this request — to keep minors away. This needs to be an adults-only type of entertainment, in a setting minors cannot be affected by it at all.”
Todd believes the event fits the legal definition of “adult cabaret,” which is defined as “a cabaret that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators, or similar entertainers.”
In his research into state law, Todd found that certain types of performances and presentations are prohibited within 1,000 feet of parks, residences and churches, but found that a “cabaret” was not defined by state law.
“So as I researched this and got with our attorneys and our legal staff in house, they made sure that I understood that when a word is not defined, you look for a common definition — and that’s where you get a difference of opinion as to what those definitions are,” Todd said.
Based on this research and consultation with legal experts, Todd believes that “cabaret” applies to both the performance and the venue that it is hosted in.
This distinction will make the difference in the injunction request.
Todd said, “The intent of the legislation was to make sure minors were not exposed to these things—strippers, male and female impersonators: all of those are listed as things minors should not be exposed to.”
Rep. Todd asserts that if the injunction is granted, it would not be a violation of Jackson Pride’s First Amendment rights.
“Our legislature clearly has the authority under the constitution to protect minors from the secondary effects of that free speech, and that’s exactly what this is. That’s been well established,” Todd said.
The event was originally slated to be at Conger Park, but found vast negative response from community members, local religious leaders and politicians.
Public comments focused on the sexuality of drag routines and the impact it would have on children in attendance.
In a social media post Todd stated that if Jackson’s mayor, Scott Conger, approved the event, he would clearly be ignoring the law.
Conger blasted back in a statement that the Conger Park event “did not violate any city code.”
Following Conger’s statement, Todd said that “State law clearly set parameters for protecting our children from this trash, and I will continue to insist this law be enforced.”
As a result of a meeting between Todd, Conger, members of Jackson Pride and community members, the event was moved to the Carl Perkins Civic Center but the inclusion of the “all-ages” element led to further action from Representative Todd.
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
This exact thing is happing currently in Maryville Tn! The first gay pride March was a year ago and now the announcement of a drag show and a witches ball. Maryville has been over run with bad elements and they are digging in to take over there and are taking downtown Knoxville just to the north. Christians, clergy and the public must stand or we just keep on complaining while we lose our country.
They’re not coming for your kids, they already got them! Scott Conger is not a conservative nor Republican by any stretch of the imagination. He is at Uber Progressive and he trades on his family name. Frankly, he gives me Andrew Gillum and Jack Murphy vibes and if you know the people I’m talking about you know it exactly what I’m saying. He is there to sell the seeds and incrementalism to turn Jackson out just like the rest of the cities in Tennessee are being turned out. They already hijacked the month of june, but this year was different because it almost every state where there was a red set or blue State they have been doing crap all summer and long and invading spaces that are very child friendly. I will not mince my words on this perversion that’s been going on truly since the 60s and this is the manifestation of it. You compromise your values and they keep on pushing theirs and they are not going to stop until it is nipped in the bud FULL STOP SPIRITUALLY & LEGALLY. Scott Conger is an embarrassment to his family’s name, but he has had this plan since he went to Lane College. He’s so sensitive to criticism he will block you office Instagram page page. He wants to present himself as a do-gooder in the middle of the ground, but he’s going to run Jackson into the ground. I said this is a black woman, reject Scott Conger now and burn his political aspirations to make sure they do not go beyond Jackson and that this term that he’s going to win will be his last term in Jackson!
Don’t let that Bethel University education fool you he is definitely more than lgbtqABCDEFG; he’s like bloodline family to the community and what’s his heart is showing in his work. He’s planning on doing heavy damage before he gets his “Andrew Gilliam vibe” behind out of office!
Regressive-Progressive Scott Conger! Don’t let him both sides you, he is not for Jesus Christ and I pray, unless he repents that what’s in the dark comes to full light concerning him!
I agree with you 100%. It’s never enough for these reprobate minds. First it was the whole month of June and now it is all year long. This was my response to the other article on this website “National Coming Out Day Just One Of Many Fall Events On The Calendar For School GSA Clubs”.
Enough already. Call it what you will this is nothing more than sexual deviant behavior. These people just have reprobate minds. If this is what you want to do in the privacy of your home so be it. I for one don’t care anything about your immoral lifestyle. If you don’t want criticism about your lifestyle keep it private and to yourself. Everyone will stand before God and have to give an account of their life. Repent now for your sin because no one wants to spend eternity in the lake of fire. It is a real place. I do have a question. What do nature centers and museums have to do with holding drag shows and calling them family friendly? There is nothing family friendly about this perverse lifestyle. God calls this an abomination.
At some point as Christians we need to stand up this immoral behavioral lifestyle.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Faithy remember what God says in Revelation 3:15-17.
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold– I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say,”I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Does this describe the man you are talking about? It seems to be a pretty good description to me.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Hello Wayne! I think he is far worse! When I said Andrew Gillum and Jack Murphy vibes, research those to people and you will catch my meaning. I absolutely believe is part of the LGBTQABCD community. This scripture to me accurately reflects the sprit that Scott Conger operates under: Matthew 7:15-23.
May God bless you and you have a blessed evening!
Faithy loved the scripture. Spot on and I know about the two characters you are referring to. They are demon possessed. As the Lord says “we need to pray for our enemies”.
God bless you and your family. I pray that God, if it is his will puts a hedge of protection around us and also makes us invisible to the evil of this world. Amen
Have a blessed day.