Judge Overturns Texas Ban on Drag Shows, Tells Offended Individuals to 'Just Not Go'
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
TEXAS – A federal judge in Texas struck down a 2023 state law aimed at restricting drag shows, ruling it unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge David Hittner, appointed by Reagan, stated that the measure, known as Texas Senate Bill 12, improperly restricted free speech, thus violating the First Amendment of the Constitution. The ruling prevents state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for a Senate seat, from enforcing the law and denies his request for a new trial. In his ruling, Hittner also advised 'those who find the activities described in this case offensive' to 'simply not go.' Paxton's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday night. The state law imposed fines of up to $10,000 on business owners who violated the rule by hosting such events, while performers could face a Class A misdemeanor charge, carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail. The regulation, which has been the subject of a years-long legal battle, had previously been ruled unconstitutional by Hittner in 2023, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals returned the case in November, lifting the law's suspension and providing specific instructions on how to reevaluate it. The law went back into effect last year following the appellate court's ruling. Texas is one of the few states that have passed laws to restrict drag shows.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
