Politicians in Missouri are considering legislation, which will ban cabaret or drag performances where it can be viewed by a minor.
The bill, proposed by Republican Rick Brattin, who made homophobic remarks in 2017 saying that homosexuals aren’t human beings, stipulates that anyone caught violating the proposed law would be charged with a class A misdemeanour (punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine up to $2,000, or both) for a first offence, while repeat offences would be a class E felony, usually reserved for those committing violent assaults and involuntary manslaughter.
“You know it’s definitely geared towards protecting children from these displays of sexual content,” said Brattin. “It is geared towards the prurient interests, which, by definition, is sexual in nature and those sorts of things.”
Sage Coram, from the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri, opposed the bill over its broad definition and its impact on First Amendment freedom of expression.
“This bill threatens our right to both creative expression and gender expression,” Corum said.
“Drag is a form of creative expression like any other. The bill’s broad prohibition of adult cabaret performance on public property in a location that ‘could be reasonably expected to be viewed by a person who is not an adult’ covers conduct almost anywhere in the state.”
The bill was introduced in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee, which could vote to advance the bill sometime soon.
