Federal Judge Temporarily Halts Texas Drag Show Ban

A federal judge in Texas has issued a temporary restraining order blocking a new state law that would have criminalized sexually-oriented performances in front of children or effectively banned some public drag shows. LGBTQ+ groups sued the Texas attorney general's office, arguing that the law violated their First Amendment rights. The judge found their argument compelling and stated that there is a substantial likelihood that the law, as drafted, violated the First Amendment. The restraining order will maintain the status quo while the judge prepares a final decision, which could come in two to four weeks. Similar legislation in other states has also faced legal challenges.