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Tennessee Becomes First State To Ban Drag Shows — New Law Also Prohibits Gender-Affirming Health Care For Minors
Tennessee law bans drag shows on public property and gender-affirming health care for minors. They seek to end gender-affirming care for all ages, including adults over 21.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation banning minors from receiving gender-afforming care and restricting drag shows from taking place in public or in front of children. CBS News reports that Gov. Lee signed the bill, making it a law on Thursday, March 2.
House lawmakers in Tennessee voted 77–16 on Thursday, with three Democrats joining their Republican representatives to pass the bill to limit care for transgender youth. Under the new law, doctors are banned from providing gender-afforming care to anyone under 18, which includes puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries. If they provide such services, they could face legal consequences.
Like most laws, there are a few exceptions to the rule. If the patient’s care began prior to June 1, 2023, the date the law goes into effect, they can continue to receive treatment. However, they can only receive treatment until March 31, 2024.
