Federal appeals court dismisses suit challenging Tennessee drag restrictions law

[Jessica_Rose]

Federal appeals court dismisses suit challenging Tennessee drag restrictions law

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/federal-appeals-court-dismisses-suit-challenging-tennessee-drag-restrictions-law/ar-BB1qfkZw?ocid=windirect&cvid=4ca4cfe180b542ecbcb8af88a1b217ce&ei=59

Story by Angele Latham and Thao Nguyen (19 July 2024)

NASHVILLE — A federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging a controversial Tennessee law that limits drag show performances in the state.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision reversed a lower court ruling that deemed the statute an unconstitutional limitation on the freedom of expression and blocked its enforcement in part of the state. In Thursday's ruling, judges declared that the Memphis-based LGBTQ+ theater company Friends of George's, which filed the original challenge last year, lacked the legal right to sue over the law.

The group claimed the law would impact their livelihoods due to the law's overbroad language restricting artistic performances, especially considering the group's drag-centric themes.

The judges took a different tone than the previous lower court ruling, instead emphasizing that the law was indeed specific enough, as the term "harmful to minors," according to them, was clear enough to absolve Friends of George's from any concerns.

"Friends of George's has not alleged that its performances lack serious value for a 17-year-old. In fact, it insists the exact opposite. Its own witness, a member of Friends of George's board, conceded that its shows 'are definitely appropriate' for a 15-year-old and would 'absolutely' have artistic value for a 17-year-old," the ruling stated.