Nebraska Dem Offers Amendment to Absurd Drag Show Ban: Ban Kids From Church, Too

The proposal serves to “make a degree” concerning the absurdity of drag present bans, the lawmaker stated.

A Nebraska Democrat has showcased the absurdity of a invoice that bars youngsters from attending drag performances by proposing an modification to the invoice that may forbid youngsters from attending spiritual providers and occasions.

LB371, launched by state Sen. Dave Murman (R), forbids children from viewing drag performances of any kind. Beneath the invoice, institutions could be fined as much as $10,000 for internet hosting drag exhibits the place youngsters are current, whereas dad and mom could possibly be fined as much as $1,000 for bringing their youngsters to such occasions.

The bill is part of a broader attack on LGBTQ people throughout the nation, with one ACLU spokesperson calling it “an unconstitutional censorship try rooted in a coordinated nationwide effort to push LGBTQ+ individuals out of public life.”

“Drag is a visible expression and artistic celebration of LGBTQ+ tradition,” Jane Seu, the authorized and coverage counsel for the ACLU of Nebraska, stated. “It has been part of the inventive neighborhood for hundreds of years and this invoice would have far-reaching implications on the historic custom of creative freedom.”

Murman — who has admitted to by no means having attended a drag efficiency — claims that drag exhibits are inherently sexual and ill-suited for youngsters. Nevertheless, many drag exhibits are created particularly for teenagers, such because the extensively lauded Drag Queen Story Hour, by which drag queens learn books to youngsters at libraries whereas in make-up and costume.

State Sen. Megan Hunt (D) launched a lot of amendments to showcase the absurdity of the invoice — together with an modification that may bar youngsters from attending church providers, spiritual camps, and different spiritual applications.

Hunt noted in her amendment that there’s “a properly documented historical past of indoctrination and sexual abuse perpetrated by spiritual leaders and clergy individuals upon youngsters.” If Republicans wish to justify barring youngsters from age-appropriate drag exhibits by falsely claiming that youngsters are being indoctrinated, youngsters must also be barred from attending spiritual providers, she stated.

Hunt has stated that she gained’t really push for the modification’s passage.

“This modification clearly gained’t move, and I’d withdraw it if it had the votes to move. It’s only a machine to make a degree,” she said.

Hunt submitted different amendments to showcase her opposition to Murman’s invoice, together with one which forbids children from attending movies with “R” ratings, fining dad and mom and film theaters the identical quantities that Murman’s proposal would nice dad and mom and institutions internet hosting drag exhibits. One other modification forbids corporations from introducing new candies within the state with out disclosing the gender of these candies — a reference to the conservative outrage after M&M changed the appearances of their cartoon mascots in commercials.