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Tennessee Governor Signs Felony Drag Show Bill, Bans Gender-Affirming Care

Tennessee Governor Signs Felony Drag Show Bill, Bans Gender-Affirming Care

A drag queen next to an image of Tennesee Gov. Bill Lee

The legislation signed by GOP Gov. Bill Lee restricts drag performances and prohibits certain gender-affirming care.

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Public drag shows will soon be illegal in Tennessee after the state's Republican-controlled general assembly passed a bill criminalizing the performance art form, and the state's GOP governor (who himself has dressed in drag) signed it on Thursday.

In a vote along party lines, the state Senate passed the bill restricting "adult cabaret performances" from children's view on public property, with violators facing up to felony charges. Last week, the Tennessee House passed the bill.

Gov. Bill Lee signed the bill within hours of the Senate passing the legislation, according to local media.

The law redefines "male and female impersonators" as adult cabaret performers and bans "adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors." Drag performances could not take place on public property or in venues accessible to minors.

Lee vowed to sign the anti-drag measure recently, despite himself having enjoyed drag in the past. On Saturday, a Reddit user shared an image of Lee wearing a short cheerleader uniform, pearls, and wig while posing alongside two girls in men's suits on a school sports field. According to a caption, the photo is from a 1977 yearbook.

After being confronted about the image of him in women's clothing, Lee feigned outrage that someone had compared what he may have done in the past to the false GOP bogeyman of sexualizing kids through exposure to drag queens reading books or singing Disney songs.

"What a ridiculous, ridiculous question that is," Lee said in an exchange captured and posted on Twitter by The Tennessee Holler. "Conflating something like that to sexualized entertainment in front of children, which is a very serious subject."

In the run-up to the 2022 midterm election, Republicans across the country seized on drag queens as a scapegoat for GOP outrage and political opportunism, claiming they pose a danger to children.

Lee also signed a bill that severely limits gender-affirming care in the state, following other states that continue to target the health care of transgender people.

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Christopher Wiggins

Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).
Christopher Wiggins is a senior national reporter for The Advocate. He has a rich career in storytelling and highlighting underrepresented voices. Growing up in a bilingual household in Germany, his German mother and U.S. Army father exposed him to diverse cultures early on, influencing his appreciation for varied perspectives and communication. His work in Washington, D.C., primarily covers the nexus of public policy, politics, law, and LGBTQ+ issues. Wiggins' reporting focuses on revealing lesser-known stories within the LGBTQ+ community. Key moments in his career include traveling with Vice President Kamala Harris and interviewing her in the West Wing about LGBTQ+ support. In addition to his national and political reporting, Wiggins represents The Advocate in the White House Press Pool and is a member of several professional journalistic organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association, Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, and Society of Professional Journalists. His involvement in these groups highlights his commitment to ethical journalism and excellence in the field. Follow him on X/Twitter @CWNewser (https://twitter.com/CWNewser) and Threads @CWNewserDC (https://www.threads.net/@cwnewserdc).