Tennessee ban on drag shows in front of children temporarily blocked by judge

A federal judge in Tennessee temporarily blocked a law that would have restricted drag performances in front of children from going into effect.

The restraining order was issued Friday, with the judge saying the legislation was likely “vague and overly-broad” in its restriction of speech. The bill would have otherwise gone into effect on Saturday.

Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee signed the bill in February after it passed through the state’s legislature. The measure was designed to restrict drag performances in public or in front of children, as conservatives across the country argue that the shows are inappropriate for younger audiences.


Lee previously said the law would protect children from potentially being exposed to “sexualized entertainment” or “obscenity.”

A federal judge in Tennessee temporarily blocked a law that would have restricted drag performances in public from going into effect.