The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently backed a Tennessee law designed to protect children from exposure to sexually provocative performances. This comes after an incident in 2022, when authorities in Jackson, TN, approved a public park “family-friendly” drag show, despite clear concerns regarding its adult-oriented nature.
State Representative Chris Todd, who was among those voicing objections, initiated legal action, leading to the event being moved indoors and restricted to individuals aged 18 and over. This victory spurred Todd to propose House Bill 9, which prevents explicit adult performances from taking place in the presence of children. The proposed legislation was supported by the Republican supermajority and opposed by all Democrats in the Tennessee General Assembly.
Under this law, establishments hosting sexually explicit shows must ensure all attendees are 18 years or older or they will face misdemeanor charges for first-time offenses and felony charges for subsequent infringements. Despite controversy and legal challenge by a Memphis theater company that organizes drag shows, the law was upheld by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Applauding the court’s decision, Rep. Todd stressed the importance of representative democracy and reiterated his commitment to protecting children against the sexualization. Todd also highlighted Tennessee’s resistance to the radical left’s “morally misguided agenda” and expressed readiness to take the fight to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.