Texas bans children’s drag shows, bans DEI in colleges, while politicians sift through last-minute bills
The Texas legislature passed two “anti-wake” bills in its closing days amid fierce protest — slashing the bills on the final day of session.
One of the bills, Senate Bill 12, prohibits minors from attending drag shows. The other, Senate Bill 17, bans offices and programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion at publicly funded colleges and universities.
Both bills now go to the desk of the state’s Republican governor, Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign them.
Bryan Hughes, the Republican senator who supported SB 12, celebrated the passage of the bill, saying it would protect children.
“Great news: Our bill protecting children from sexually explicit drag shows (SB 12) is officially on its way to the governor’s office,” he tweeted.
“These shows are arguably inappropriate for minors, and we will not allow children to be sexualized or harassed in Texas.”
Protesters were seen last month in front of the Capitol in Austin, Texas, taking to the streets to raise their voices against a series of “wake up” bills
People march to the Texas State Capitol in Austin on April 15, weeks before the legislature passed ‘anti-wake’ laws in its final days
Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott will now sign both SB 12 and SB 17
Texas follows the lead of Montana, which last week became the first state to specifically ban people dressed in cross-dressing from reading books to children in public schools and libraries.
Bills in Florida and Tennessee also appear to be trying to ban drag reading events, but both require the performances to be sexual in nature, which is open to interpretation. Both bills also face legal challenges.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick of Texas, who made the bill a priority, said in a post-vote statement that it “prohibits sexualized performances and drag shows in the presence of a minor.”
He added: “It is shocking to me that any parent would allow their young child to be sexualized through drag shows.
“Children, who cannot make decisions for themselves, must be protected from this scourge our state faces.”
The LGBTQ community has seen both SB 12 and SB 17 as an attack on their very existence. On April 15, people march in Austin
Bryan Hughes, the Republican senator who introduced the bill banning drag shows for minors
Some have questioned how to prosecute the towing bill.
The Texas District and County Attorneys Association, the state’s professional association of prosecutors, pointed out that the bill does not define “sexual gestures” for which performers would be punished.
It would also criminalize sexual conduct between 17-year-olds, which is currently legal because the age of consent in Texas is 17.
“Pre-coital sexual conduct in private between consenting adults when one or both are 17” would be illegal, the group tweeted from the official handle.
“That’s not going to work.”
Critics have also said the wording was broad enough to include cheerleading teams.
Mary Gonzalez, head of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, warned it “could even involve the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.”
Violators can be charged with a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a $4,000 fine.
The company hosting them would face a $10,000 civil fine per violation.
Drag queens in the state vowed to challenge the law.
“Well Texas…really devastated by this bill,” tweeted Cynthia Lee Fontaine, who appeared on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
‘Very disappointed. But we will keep fighting! This isn’t over yet! We’re not criminals!’
The second bill, SB 17, defunds diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives — and is part of a national wave of bills, arguing that taxpayers’ money is being used to fuel racial divisions and promote a liberal agenda in colleges and promote universities.
The Texas law, when signed into law by Abbott, will give colleges and universities six months to phase out their DEI programs.
Brandon Creighton introduced SB 17, which discourages diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in publicly funded colleges and universities
An analysis of bills by the Associated Press found that at least 30 bills this year in about a dozen states aimed at ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at colleges and universities.
Brandon Creighton, who sponsored SB 17, tweeted, “Abolishing the Offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will save taxpayers millions and restore a culture of free inquiry, meritocracy, equal opportunity, and true innovation within Texas higher education.”
But the Texas Conference of American Association of University Professors (AAUP) said in a statement that the bill sends a clear message to the 1.3 million public university and community college students, “that our state is not committed to allowing students of all backgrounds and to build a public higher education system that is truly inclusive and supportive of all.”
They tweeted, “In light of the passage of #SB17 banning diversity, equality and inclusion officers, we are asking our public university and community colleges to seek ways to continue to make the best use of the invaluable service to our campus communities by DEI staff and faculty.”
The University of Texas AAUP chapter said SB 17 was intended “to divide Texans.”
They tweeted: “Instead of using their power to address gun violence, economic inequality or fully funding our public schools, lawmakers stripped trans youth of their health care, tried to steal tax dollars from our students in neighborhood schools, violated Texans’ religious freedom targeted border and LGBTQIA+ communities and continued to unleash culture wars that sought to divide and distract us.”
Attacks on tenure, academic freedom, and DEI are just this: part of a culture war trying to divide Texans. The fight continues.’