TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Julia Wilburn on Feb 26, 2024

Lawyers for the state of Tennessee recently argued in front of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to reverse a lower court's ruling declaring the 2023 Adult Entertainment Act unconstitutional, according to the Tennessean. Shortly after Gov. Bill Lee signed the legislation into law last summer, placing new restrictions on drag performances across the state, a federal judge in Memphis ruled it unconstitutional. Associate Solicitor General Matthew Rice, arguing on behalf of the state, told the court on Feb. 1 that the law, which restricts "male and female impersonators" from performing in public spaces or where children could witness them if the performances could be deemed "harmful to minors," could be used to police drag performances in homes as well.