An anti-drug bill proposed in the Texas legislature would fine businesses that host drug events anywhere children are present, including restaurants and bars.known as Senate Bill 12 (SB12), the bill is just one of several anti-drug bills currently passing through the Texas Senate and House of Representatives. SB12 and SB1601Withholding state funds from municipal libraries that host drug story time.
SB12 impose a fine If attended by anyone under the age of 18 or takes place on public property, As reported by texas tribuneCivil penalties amount to $10,000 per violation. Republican Texas Senators Brian Hughes and Lois Kolkhorst co-authored the bill.
The bill would define a “sexually oriented performance” as one in which the person is naked, a male performer is “displaying” as a woman, or a woman as a man is wearing “clothing, makeup, or other similar physical I define it as a “visual performance” singing with markers. , lip-syncing, dancing, or otherwise performing in front of an audience,” and that the performance “appeals to an obscene interest in sex.” defined The United States Supreme Court has ruled “erotic, lewd, abnormal, unhealthy, degrading, shameful, or morbid interest in nudity, sex, or excrement”.
on the other hand, tribune Note Like most bars and nightclubs, the bill doesn’t apply to venues catering exclusively to people over the age of 21, but family-friendly venues like Little Darling and Jester King Brewery that host drag events and shows. There are still many bars and restaurants. .
non-profit organization equality texas being tracking What is considered “bad bill” in Congress, including 140 anti-LGBTQ bills.the organization encourages people signing up to speak Opposed SB12 and SB1601 at the March 23 hearing.Austin LGBT Chamber asking people who do write Encourage people to vote against the bill. Several non-profit organizations — Equality, His ACLU of Texas, Lambda Legal, Texas Freedom Network, Texas Transgender Education Network, and Human Rights Campaign — held a meeting, all-in on Equality Day. Outside the Texas Capitol on March 20 against anti-LGBTQ legislation.
The current version of SB12 differs from the bill Sen. Hughes proposed in January. the bill, SB476the business of hosting drag shows as “sexually oriented businessIt groups with companies that host ‘live nude entertainment’. The bill was also intended to broadly define drag performance. audience for entertainment. This technically includes any kind of theatrical/television/film acting, etc.organizations such as Actors Equity Association He pointed out that the bill would essentially ban acting. It also grouped performers dressed up to read stories to children. I have not.
Senator Hughes has submitted a follow-up to the reworded bill. This is a modification of the definition of drag performance to include angles at which drag performance is assumed to be “sexual”. discovered That Texas Congressman Nate Schatzlein (Fort Worth) — who proposed HB1266 —was wearing a dress at a school play. Last year, Texas Congressman Brian Slaton vowed to introduce legislation to ban children from drag shows in response to a viral video of a family-friendly drag pride event in Dallas. .
Late February, Tennessee General Assembly passed it The bill would impose a $2,500 fine, a Class A misdemeanor, and up to one year in prison for those who do drugs in the presence of a “non-adult”. Additional offenses would increase jail time.
And in mid-March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis requesting cancellation Liquor Liquor Governor of Hyatt Regency Miami dispatched an undercover investigator Even though he attended the show and found nothing “offensive” about the event, he’s still trying to revoke his license.
If passed, the bill will enter into force on September 1, 2023.
