• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Montana has become the first US state to specifically ban drag queens from reading to children

Home> Politics

Published 04:11 25 May 2023 GMT+1

Montana has become the first US state to specifically ban drag queens from reading to children

Governor Greg Gianforte added it’s 'wildly inappropriate for little kids' to be 'exposed to sexualized content'.

Charisa Bossinakis

Charisa Bossinakis

Montana has become the first US state to ban people dressed in drag from reading to children in public schools and libraries.

AP News reported that the new law passed earlier this week followed Florida and Tennesse's restrictions on minors attending drag shows.

However, Montana has taken its legislation a step further by banning drag story time rather than just 'sexually driven' performances.

The state law defines drag as 'a male or female performer who adopts a flamboyant or parodic feminine persona with glamorous or exaggerated costumes and makeup'.

Advert

Paul Christian Gordon/Alamy Live News

The bill, co-sponsored by more than half of the Republican-controlled legislature, came into effect immediately after Republican Governor Greg Gianforte signed it on Monday (May 22).

The Montana Governor signed the bill as he 'believes it’s wildly inappropriate for little kids, especially preschoolers and kids in elementary school, to be exposed to sexualized content', according to a statement, as per CNN.

However, Sasha Buchert, an attorney with Lambda Legal, a national organization that seeks to protect the civil rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and those diagnosed with HIV and AIDS, said the new law is 'constitutionally suspect on all levels'.

Advert

She added it would affect young children struggling with their sexuality to know they are not alone.

The bill initially meant to ban minors from attending child-friendly drag shows, and was sponsored by Republican Representative Braxton Mitchell, who believes 'there’s no such thing as a family-friendly drag show'.

The Canadian Press / Alamy Stock Photo

In March, Tennessee became the first state to bar minors from 'adult cabaret performances' on public property, specifically places where children might be present.

Advert

Those who violate this legislation could face misdemeanour or even felony charges.

Stella Yarbrough, American Civil Liberties Union Tenessee legal director, expressed her dismay over Governor Bill Lee signing the bill.

“We are disappointed that Governor Lee chose to sign a bill that politicians intended to censor drag performances," she said in a statement.

"However, I want to be abundantly clear: the law that was just signed does not make it illegal to perform in drag in Tennessee. The law bans obscene performances, and drag performances are not inherently obscene.

Advert

"However, we are concerned that government officials could easily abuse this law to censor people based on their own subjective viewpoints of what they deem appropriate, chilling protected free speech and sending a message to LGBTQ Tennesseans that they are not welcome in our state."

Featured Image Credit: Images-USA / Alamy Stock Photo. David Grossman / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: News, Politics, LGBTQ

Charisa Bossinakis
Charisa Bossinakis

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

14 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
3 days ago
  • 14 hours ago

    Trump’s chronic vein condition explained after recent photos sparked health concerns

    The president has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency

    News
  • a day ago

    Eye-opening new poll reveals how many Americans believe Trump is 'covering up' Epstein files

    The figures aren't looking good for the Trump administration as confidence falters over the Epstein files

    News
  • 2 days ago

    People are all saying the same thing after Trump makes bizarre comments on Epstein files

    Trump is now saying Epstein's client list was 'made up' by Joe Biden and Barack Obama

    News
  • 3 days ago

    Trump gives worrying nine-word response when asked if he trusts Putin

    US President Donald Trump revealed his feelings about Russian leader Vladimir Putin

    News
  • US Supreme Court gives the green light for Trump to implement transgender military ban
  • Millions of flies to be dropped on US state after disturbing threat of flesh-eating maggots
  • Donald Trump sends clear message to Canada as he claims it will become the ‘greatest state’ of the US
  • Why George Clooney's wife Amal could face ban from the US amid Trump's controversial new sanctions