Senate Leader Introduces Bill To Ban Drag Shows For Children (Update 12.12.22)

***Update 12/12/22 – Representative Chris Todd (R-Madison County-District 73) is now the prime sponsor of this legislation in the Tennessee House – Bill #HB0009. ****

Image Credit: Peggy Anderson / CC

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin-District 27) is sponsoring a bill that would ban drag shows for children within the state.

SB03 “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.”

Johnson’s bill, which does not yet have a sponsor in the House, would define male or female impersonators who provide entertainment of a sexualized nature as adult cabaret performers along with “strippers” and exotic dancers. The bill would amend a state law that already prevents adult-orientated businesses like strip clubs from conducting business within 1,000 feet of certain locations such as schools, public parks or churches.

Johnson said, “I filed legislation to ban any type of drag show that is sexual in nature from being performed on public or private property where kids will be around to see it.”

Should the bill become law, a first time offense would be a Class A misdemeanor – punishable by jail time up to a year and fines of $2,500 – but a second offense would be a Class E felony which could mean up to 6 years in prison, along with fines totaling $3,000.

George Carneal, author of From Queer to Christ, lived as a homosexual for 25 years, and says that drag shows are most definitely not “family friendly” events. Having lived with a drag queen, Carneal is well acquainted with the reality of drag shows and says that parents are allowing their children to be indoctrinated, believing it to harmless fun. 

To those in the LGBTQ community who say that drag events are suitable entertainment for minors, Carneal offers the following rebuttal:

• Drag shows are of a sexual nature when a man in drag is showing half of his rear-end in some of the skimpy outfits.

• Drag shows for children are a way to slowly indoctrinate children to a perverse, sexualized world of adult language, adult humor, sexual innuendo, even pedophiles.

• It is blurring the lines between what is a man vs. a woman and a child may not understand that the adult men in drag are merely performers.

• Children do not have the ability to discern between a fun and playful drag show vs the reality of a homosexual lifestyle that is filled with drugs, alcohol, porn, sex addiction, strippers, STD’s, and more.

In addition, Carneal says, “When your child turns 18, and desires to attend drag shows in gay nightclubs, they will be exposed to sexually explicit and risqué material, half-naked bodies, adult-oriented humor, foul language, and free-flowing alcohol and drugs.”

“All ages” and “family friendly” drag shows have been popping up all over the state but conservatives have taken a stand this year against these events, in some cases getting organizers to limit the audience to over 18 and in other cases getting the event entirely canceled.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.