With the legislative session ending in just over a month, the Texas House of Representatives continues avoiding legislation to prevent children from being exposed to sexually explicit drag shows.
The state Senate, meanwhile, has moved to pass two pieces of legislation to do just that.
As children continue to be exposed to half-naked men dressed in lingerie who twerk and dance proactively. Ending the sexualization of children is a priority for the Texas GOP for this session, and preventing children from attending sexually-charged drag events is a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick this legislative session.
“It is shocking to me that any parent would allow their young child to be sexualized by drag shows,” said Patrick. “Children, who cannot make decisions on their own, must be protected from these sexually-oriented drag shows now occurring more and more in front of them.”
In the Senate
Two pieces of legislation to prevent drag performances from targeting children have been passed out of the Senate.
Senate Bill 12 by State Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) would restrict sexually oriented performances in the presence of children in public places and private businesses, as well as authorize the Texas attorney general to sue any business or entity that violates the law.
This measure is a top priority for Patrick, who said he selected it “because someone must fight back against the radical Left’s degradation of our society and values.”
Hughes’ legislation passed in the Senate by a vote of 20-11.
Also by Hughes, Senate Bill 1601 would ban drag queen story hours from public libraries that receive state funding.
Senators approved the legislation in a vote of 19-10.
Both measures have been referred to and are now awaiting hearings in the House Committee on State Affairs.
In the House
House Bill 4378 by State Rep. Steve Toth (R-Conroe) would allow children to take legal action against someone that promotes, conducts, or performs drag in front of them.
If a person takes legal action against a drag performer, the proposal requires the person to have been under the age of 18 years old when the event occurred, and legal action to be taken within 10 years of the date the incident took place.
The legislation also clarifies it is not a justifiable defense for the child to have been accompanied by their parent or guardian to the drag performance.
Toth’s legislation is also stuck in the House Committee on State Affairs and has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
With the 88th Legislative Session ending May 29, Patrick has expressed fears his priority measures won’t pass in the House and has said that a special session may be necessary.
