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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The Bird & The Book in Maryville, TN, is hosting yet another drag event in February. While the Murvul Punk Anti Valentines Bash states that it is an 18+ event, children are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian.
The February show is being organized by Coffin Curse Records and “Alien Rockstar” Joshua Ricker – aka “Icky Stardust” – a drag entertainer who tried to create a drag show for children last year at Ijam’s Nature Center in Knoxville.
Coffin Curse Records and Ricker were also responsible for the All Ages Punk & Drag Haunted House Drag Show last October, which was later changed to 18+ after pushback from the Maryville community.
With the new legislative session in Nashville about to begin in earnest, Tennessee lawmakers are sponsoring bills to ban drag shows for children within the state.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) is sponsoring SB0003 with co-sponsors Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16), Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City-District 3), Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin-District 18), and Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald-District 28). The bill “creates an offense for a person who engages in an adult cabaret performance on public property or in a location where the adult cabaret performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult.”
The proposed legislation would define male or female impersonators who provide entertainment of a sexualized nature as “adult cabaret performers” – placing them in the same category as strippers and exotic dancers.
Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) is sponsoring the House version of the bill.
Also in the House, Representative Clay Doggett (R-Pulaski-District 70) is sponsoring a bill that would require adult entertainers to secure a valid permit before participating in any compensated form of adult entertainment.
HB0030 would amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 7, Chapter 51 which deals with “entertainment suitable for mature audiences” including male or female impersonators.
Ricker has stated that drag does not sexualize children and that lies are being spread about the drag community in Tennessee. “Drag is to inspire people and to welcome people to our events, to provide a safe inclusive judgment-free space for everyone to enjoy!” said Ricker.
The Gateway Pundit exposed the lewd content of a recent “family friendly” show in Austin, Texas, that made a scheduled stop at Knoxville’s historic Tennessee Theatre.
“A Drag Queen Christmas” was open to minors – parental discretion advised – and prompted a protest on the night of the show.
Two days before the show, Representative Jason Zachary (R-Knoxville-District 14) said in a video on Twitter that city officials spoke with the show’s promoter and set an expectation that performers would not interact with children as they had in previous cities.
Zachary also promised that when the general assembly gets to work this month, that “action is going to be taken.”
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
7 Responses
Don’t pull a muscle with that stretch, you might hurt yourselves. This show is not aimed at children, they can go if accompanied by an adult, just like you can do at an R rated movie. There is zero nudity at these shows. Let me repeat that, ZERO nudity. Yall quit listening to the gibberish mark pulliam writes on that ridiculously ignorant and racist facebook page, its garbage.
There you go again. Anybody that disagrees with their demented and reprobate lifestyle choice. Gets labeled with all kinds of slurs. But they always say the conservatives are the hateful people. Just because we voice our opinion, but we are not allow to do that. If you don’t want the criticism. Then stop drawing attention to your perverted lifestyle choice. These shows aren’t the same as going to the movies. It’s more like going to a strip club were they do lewd sexual acts and you have to be over the age of 18 to enter. Nudity isn’t the only issue. The fact that grown men dressing in women’s clothing, putting on outrages amount of make-up and looking like demented clowns. Is in itself the definition of insanity. As for any person or parent that takes a child or children to any of these perverted shows. They need to have their heads examined.
Deuteronomy 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
No wayne you are wrong, these shows are the same as going to a movie, go to one and find out. The flyer plainly states, 18 and over. Men have been dressing as women since the beginning of theatre, its acting.. plain and simple. Quoting scripture while condemning others because you have different beliefs is exactly what is wrong with christians these days- walking around with a heart full of hate and mouth full of scripture… Bless your heart.
Wow Shawn you are so tolerate of us Christians.. No matter how you try to justify your reprobate and perverted lifestyle choice in Gods words it’s an abomination. We will all stand before God and we will have to give an account. You say it’s all acting. Well I beg to differ. I’m not condemning anyone. You are condemning yourself. I just quote God’s word. You choose not to follow but I do. Obviously this is really about decency and morality. And in my opinion your moral compass is way off. Just remember God will not be mocked whether you believe or not. Shawn I have no desire to go one of those perverted and lewd (acting) shows. You have a hatred for Christians because we know the difference between moral and immoral behavior and good and evil. But bless your heart for really trying to justify your immoral lifestyle.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
No shawn you are wrong. The disguising flyer says right at the bottom 18 + unless accompanied by an adult. You should reread the flyer. But bless your heart for trying to spreading misinformation.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
Imagine being scared of men in makeup and dresses who tell jokes and lip sync.
Some of you “Christians” have a serious fascination with drag shows. Seems like you probably should talk to your wife about your inner feelings. Do you realize you have been entertained by drag your entire life? Mash, Flip Wilson, Mrs Doubtfire, Bugs bunnie and even as far back as Shakespeare. I wouldn’t expect any of you read this but I’ll post it anyways if it will let me. https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/the-history-of-drag-and-how-drag-queens-got-pulled-into-politics/