Federal Judge Rules Texas Drag Show Ban Unconstitutional
The ruling blocks enforcement after the judge found the measure was too vague and broad to survive First Amendment review.
- On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge David Hittner struck down Texas Senate Bill 12, a 2023 law banning "sexually oriented performances," ruling it an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.
- The statute, which prohibits performances on public property or before minors, faced a yearslong legal battle after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals initially allowed it to take effect earlier this year.
- Hittner wrote the law is overly broad, noting it could treat "cheerleading, dancing, live theater, and other common public occurrences" as criminal violations.
- Calling the ruling "an affront to Texas values," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to appeal the decision and argued without proof that it endangers children.
- Plaintiff Brigitte Bandit and ACLU of Texas attorney Brian Klosterboer celebrated the decision, stating the ruling confirms the attempt to ban such performances was "unconstitutional from start to finish.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Judge blocks Texas drag ban, citing free speech and Dolly Parton
The judge said the 2023 law was so broad it could have swept up “cheerleading, dancing, live theater” and other everyday performances. The post Texas drag ban shut down as judge cites Dolly Parton in ruling: ‘Just don’t go’ appeared first on PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news.
SB 12 — 'the drag ban' — again ruled unconstitutional
Judge David Hittner Texas’ drag ban — Senate Bill 12 passed in the 2023 Texas Legislature — has once again been ruled unconstitutional, according to numerous reports. A federal judge in Houston ruled Tuesday, Aug. 25 — for the second time — that Senate Bill 12, the so-called Texas drag ban which came out of the 2023 legislative session, is unconstitutional. Today’s ruling once against pauses enforcement of the law, which had gone into effect in …
Federal judge rules Texas' drag ban is unconstitutional prohibition of free speech
A Texas law banning drag performances in the presence of minors can’t be enforced because it’s an unconstitutional restriction on free speech, a federal judge decided Tuesday. U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled in favor of a drag performer and two drag production companies who sued to overturn Senate Bill 12, a Republican-backed measure designed to […] The post Federal judge rules Texas’ drag ban is unconstitutional prohibition of free spee…
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