Theater troupe sues, blocks ban on drag
Saturday, April 1, would have marked the beginning of Tennessee's ban on drag shows in public space, were it not for a federal court order by Judge Thomas Parker.

"If Tennessee wishes to exercise its police power in restricting speech it considers obscene, it must do so within the constraints and framework of the United States Constitution," Parker wrote. "The Court finds that, as it stands, the record here suggests that when the legislature passed this Statute, it missed the mark."

The Memphis-based LGBTQ theater group Friends of George's, Inc. sued over the law, arguing it was unconstitutional.

The group's motion for a restraining order read, "This law threatens to force a theatre troupe into a nightclub, because Tennessee legislators believe they have the right to make their own opinions about drag into law. Plaintiff's other option is to proceed as planned, knowing that the Friends of George's drag performers could face criminal — even felony — charges."

The troupe also pointed out that if a cheerleader and drag queen both performed in front of children, only the drag queen would be breaking the law.

Their lawyers wrote, "Thus, the prohibited speech is defined by the identity of the drag performer — and the message he conveys."

"We won because this is a bad law," said Mark Campbell, president of the board of directors for Friends of George's. "We look forward to our day in court, where the rights of all Tennesseans will be affirmed."

Kansas Democrat flips, Kelly's veto overruled
Republicans in the Kansas state legislature have outvoted Gov. Laura Kelly's most recent veto of a bill restricting Trans people's access to school sports. The law is set to take effect on July 1 this year, and would prevent Trans athletes from partaking in girls' and women's sports up through the college level.

The bill passed the day after Kansas lawmakers passed a separate bill restricting bathroom access, and its supporters are falling in line with other GOP-majority state houses, aiming to end gender-affirming care for minors as well.

"It's a scary time to be raising a Trans child in Kansas," said lifelong Kansas resident Cat Poland. "We may face the very real threat of having to move, and it's heartbreaking."

"They just keep taking ...the next step, the next step, until where are Trans people supposed to go? Where can they exist to be safe and live happy and fulfilling lives?"

Eighth-grade cross-country runner Alex Poland said legislators are pursuing "bills against children" who "haven't done anything to harm anyone."

It's the adults, Alex said, who "care so much about what the Trans kids are doing," while the children on the actual school sports teams just don't.

The bill's supporters couldn't have succeeded in overriding Gov. Kelly's veto without the vote of one Democrat, Rep. Marvin Robinson of Kansas City. Robinson said he prayed for guidance before the vote.