All articles tagged with #drag shows
The article highlights various activities in D.C. for the upcoming weekend and week, including wine tastings, drag shows, vision board workshops, cultural celebrations, and more, offering options for diverse interests and preferences.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott supports the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a request by a student group to host a drag show at a Texas university, stating that drag shows are not welcome in Texas universities as the focus should be on education, not indoctrination. The student group, Spectrum WT, sued the university officials for banning the drag show, citing a violation of the First Amendment. The legal battle continues as the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is set to hear arguments in April, amidst a broader conservative-led anti-drag crusade in Republican-led states.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a case involving a ban on drag shows in Texas, marking the second time this term it has refused to step into a drag controversy. Students at West Texas A&M University sought emergency intervention after their scheduled drag show was blocked on campus, claiming a violation of their free speech rights. The university president's opposition to drag shows and a conservative federal appeals court add complexity to the situation, while legal arguments revolve around whether drag performances qualify for First Amendment protection.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene in a lawsuit over West Texas A&M University's drag shows, allowing President Walter Wendler to cancel a scheduled on-campus drag show next week. Last year, Wendler banned student-led drag shows, prompting students to sue him for violating their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit is before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, but the slow legal process could result in another cancellation without court intervention. The Supreme Court did not provide a reason for denying the students' request, and the university declined to comment on pending litigation.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his administration are facing legal challenges on two fronts. The University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, with support from the ACLU, filed a lawsuit after the chancellor of Florida's university system ordered schools to disband the chapters, claiming it violated their First Amendment rights. Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the DeSantis administration's request to enforce a law aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows, with a judge previously ruling that the law violated First Amendment rights.
A federal judge has declared a Texas law that restricted "sexually oriented performances" unconstitutional, stating that it violates the First Amendment. The law, which would have limited public drag performances, was blocked from going into effect by a preliminary injunction. A similar law in Tennessee was also ruled unconstitutional. The ACLU of Texas, representing LGBTQ groups and performers, celebrated the decision as a victory for free expression. The law would have imposed fines on businesses hosting such performances and could have resulted in jail time for performers. Critics argued that the law would have impacted various forms of entertainment, including theater performances and professional cheerleading routines.
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.
A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction against Senate Bill 12 in Texas, which aimed to restrict "sexually oriented performances" and was criticized for targeting drag shows. The law, set to take effect on September 1, would have limited public drag performances and imposed fines on businesses and performers. The ACLU of Texas represented LGBTQ groups, businesses, and a performer in a lawsuit against state officials. The judge's ruling temporarily blocks the law, stating that it infringes on the First Amendment rights of performers and would have a chilling effect on free expression. Texas is one of six states that have passed similar restrictions, with some laws being blocked and ruled unconstitutional.
Plaintiffs suing the state of Texas over a new law restricting sexually-explicit shows argued in a federal court that drag shows are a protected form of political and expressive performance art celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community. The plaintiffs, including business owners, LGBTQ+ groups, and drag performers, testified about the content and significance of drag performances, while lawyers for the state argued that drag shows are not necessarily protected by the First Amendment. The plaintiffs requested a temporary injunction to block the law, which is scheduled to go into effect on Friday. The law prohibits suggestive dancing and certain prosthetics in front of children, but critics argue that it targets drag shows. Similar laws in other states have faced legal challenges and have been blocked from going into effect.
A Texas law banning drag shows in the presence of minors is set to go into effect on September 1st. In response, a San Antonio restaurant held what could be its last drag show, featuring local drag queens and a former contestant from "RuPaul's Drag Race." The owners of the drag group have joined a lawsuit against the law, arguing that it is unconstitutional and violates free speech rights. Critics warn that the broad law could impact other performances as well.
A federal judge in Florida has clarified that his order blocking a law targeting drag shows applies to all venues in the state, not just the restaurant that brought the lawsuit challenging it. The judge reiterated that the law, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, is likely unconstitutional. The law punished venues for allowing children into "adult live performances," which was seen as targeting drag shows. The judge rejected the state's argument that the preliminary injunction should only apply to the restaurant, stating that all Floridians are potentially affected since free speech is at stake.
Drag performers in Southwest Florida are relieved to be able to perform and host events at places like The Standard in downtown Fort Myers without fear of losing their license. Performer Alyssa Lemay defends their performances as entertainment and not inappropriate, while employee Katie Leonard says drag shows are good for business. Restaurant patrons see drag performances as just another form of entertainment.
A federal judge has ruled against a new Florida law that cracks down on certain "adult live performances" and could revoke the liquor license of any establishment that allows children to attend performances that include lewd exposure to "prosthetic or imitation genitals and breasts." The law did not specifically mention drag performances, but opponents said it was part of a slate of laws aimed at "erasing" the LGBTQ community. The ruling means that the state cannot enforce the law unless it prevails at trial. The law was opposed by Democrats and others who said it was vague and unnecessary and amounted to an attempt to outlaw drag performances.
A federal judge has issued an injunction blocking a Florida law that would have imposed fines and other penalties on businesses that host drag shows, citing concerns that the law violates the First Amendment rights of performers and patrons. The law, which was set to take effect on July 1, had been criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates as discriminatory. The judge's order means that the law will not be enforced while a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality proceeds.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new Florida law targeting drag shows, which was championed by Governor Ron DeSantis. The law punished venues for allowing children into "adult live performances," and venues that violated the law faced fines and the prospect of their liquor licenses being suspended or revoked. The judge granted a preliminary injunction stopping the law from being enforced until a trial is held to determine its constitutionality. The complaint was brought by the owner of a restaurant and bar in Orlando, which regularly hosts drag shows, including family-friendly performances on Sundays where children were invited to attend.