Rupaul’s Night Of The Living Drag Show Performed At The Grand Ole Opry And Other Venues In Tennessee With No Age Restriction On Attendance

Image Credit: Voss Events / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative [By Kelly M. Jackson] –

Last week, performances of Rupaul’s Night Of The Living Drag Halloween-themed drag show were performed in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga. The drag shows took place in venues that do not have any age restrictions and the production company producing the show, Voss Events, did not include an age restriction on ticket sales.  One more of the shows will take place in Memphis on October 25th.

One of the venues used for the show was a Tennessee icon, known for family friendly and all around wholesome world-class entertainment, The Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

For an idea of what this show looks like, and the sort of content that is included, click image above or check out this link here. The content is very sexual in nature, there are representations of nudity, BDSM, cannibalism, violence, and various sex acts. 

The issues around the legality of drag performances in Tennessee have been muddied by recent lawsuits in 2 counties, which have resulted in 2 injunctions in both Shelby and Blount counties.

AG Skrmetti has advised all other counties that, despite the rulings from the 6^th District, the law is effective in all other 93 counties in Tennessee. He has also advised law enforcement mechanisms that violations of what is being called The Adult Entertainment Act (or AEA), is still considered breaking the law.

With new additions to the language of the law, a violation would include what the law calls an “adult cabaret performance” which is defined as a performance in a location other than an adult cabaret that features topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest, or similar entertainers, regardless of whether or not performed for consideration.“

To give a better idea of what the state of Tennessee means when they say “prurient interest,” the law is very specific when it defines the nature of such a performance: “A performance of actual or simulated specified sexual activities, including removal of articles of clothing or appearing unclothed, regardless of whether a fee is charged or accepted for the performance and regardless of whether the performance is provided as an employee or an independent contractor.”

At trial, Friends of George’s played videos of three of its productions, to give the court an example of the nature of the material in their performances. In two of the three examples presented, the court found that because the characters who performed in the shows had dialogue that describes sexual acts including intercourse and masturbation, the shows could have been objectively interpreted by law enforcement as violating the AEA.

And yet, the court determined that because the new law was imposing an age restriction on this kind of entertainment, that it was a violation of the plaintiff’s 1^st Amendment rights, under the equal protections clause of the 14^th Amendment. 

In other words, the 6^th Circuit federal court decided that drag performers have a 1^st Amendment right to perform their shows in front of minor children, because even though the content did meet the legal standard, the reason for the performances were to “express their identity” and not to sexually excite. 

It is important to point out here that Friends of George’s never disputed that the content is sexual in nature, but rather that it should be allowed to be performed for all ages because their stated intent isn’t to corrupt but inform. They provided no proof of this, except to say as much in their arguments to the judge. 

Due to the two lawsuits currently in litigation, none of the law enforcement mechanisms in any other of Tennessee’s 93 counties will attempt to enforce the law until the 6^th Circuit court decides on whether the new law in Tennessee is in fact inherently “unconstitutional” and would then be completely set aside. 

This case is ongoing, and we will continue to follow any and all developments. 

About the Author: Kelly Jackson is a recent escapee from corporate America, and a California refugee to Tennessee. Christ follower, Wife and Mom of three amazing teenagers. She has a BA in Comm from Point Loma Nazarene University, and has a background in law enforcement and human resources. Since the summer of 2020, she has spent any and all free time in the trenches with local grassroots orgs, including Mom’s for Liberty Williamson County and Tennessee Stands as a core member.  Outspoken advocate for parents rights, medical freedom, and individual liberty. Kelly can be reached at kelly@tennesseeconservativenews.com.