The well-known state of USA, the Texas legislature recently passed a bill that prohibits sexual conduct in public performances in the state, a move that was initially spurred by fears surrounding children watching drag shows.
Senate Bill (SB) 12 focuses on banning “sexually oriented performances” in public when it is reasonable that a child could view the acts or when anyone under the age of 18 is present.
Actual or simulated sex acts, showing genitals in a “lewd state,” and the use of accessories to exaggerate sexual features are all prohibited in these public performances.
A previous version of the bill defined drag shows as sexually-oriented acts, which drew criticism from state house Democrats who claimed it targeted LGBTQ individuals.
Potential violators face a Class A misdemeanour charge, which carries a penalty of up to one year in jail or a $4,000 fine. The bill also contains a civil penalty of $10,000 for each violation.
Bryan Hughes, a Texas State Senator and the author of the bill, stated, “Our bill protecting children from sexually explicit drag shows is officially headed to the Governor’s desk.”
The bill was passed by both the Texas House and Senate on the same day. The bill was passed by a vote of 87 to 54 in the House. Texas Governor Greg Abbott will now decide whether to sign the bill into law.
Drag performers in Utah recently sued one of the cities for infringing on their freedom of speech after being denied a permit for an all-ages drag show in a public park.
