Key takeaways:
- A federal judge in Tennessee has granted a temporary injunction against a first-of-its-kind law that would have placed strict limits on drag shows.
- The law was signed into effect by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, on March 2 and has been met with strong opposition from the LGBTQ+ community.
- The case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled for April 13 to determine whether the law will be allowed to take effect or if it will be permanently blocked by the court.
A federal judge in Tennessee has granted a temporary injunction against a first-of-its-kind law that would have placed strict limits on drag shows. The law, which was set to take effect on Saturday, would have banned “adult cabaret entertainment” on public property or in any place of business.
The Memphis-based theater group Friends of George’s filed a federal lawsuit against Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and the state of Tennessee on Monday, arguing that the law violated the First Amendment. On Friday, U.S. District Judge William L. Parker granted the group’s request for a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting the law’s implementation.
In his ruling, Judge Parker wrote that the law “missed the mark” when it came to protecting free speech. He noted that if the state wishes to restrict speech it considers obscene, it must do so within the constraints of the United States Constitution.
The law was signed into effect by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, on March 2. It was the first law of its kind in the nation and has been met with strong opposition from the LGBTQ+ community.
The case is ongoing and a hearing is scheduled for April 13. It remains to be seen whether the law will be allowed to take effect or if it will be permanently blocked by the court.
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