Texas federal judge halts state’s drag ban

A federal judge in Texas has stopped the state’s ban on drag performances, which was scheduled to go into place Friday, enforcing a temporary injunction on the measure in a win for LGBTQ rights advocates.

A group of drag performance groups, led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Texas, filed a suit against the state early this month claiming that the law is overly broad and infringes on their freedom of speech.

“The Court finds there is a substantial likelihood that S.B. 12 as drafted violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution under one or more of the legal theories put forward by the Plaintiffs,” District Judge David Hittner wrote in his opinion Thursday.

The law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in late June, bans “sexually oriented performances” that take place in the presence of minors. LGBTQ advocates argued that the bill’s definition of performances is too broad and unconstitutional.

Venues that host events in violation of the law could be fined, and performers charged with a misdemeanor.

The ACLU of Texas celebrated the injunction decision.

“Drag performers and LGBTQIA+ allied businesses belong in our state — and Texas politicians have no right to censor our free expression,” the organization said.

After the injunction, the court will now fully consider whether the law can go into effect.

Drag performers have said the law is intended to crack down on their art.

“Texas queens and kings from across our great state have been targets of threats and misinformation as a result of the anti-drag law,” drag artist Brigitte Bandit, who is one of the plaintiffs, told The Associated Press. “Our community will not be used as a scapegoat or a distraction by politicians who do not know who we are or what we do.”

Texas Republicans, however, celebrated the measure’s passage. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) said it is meant to “push back against the radical left’s disgusting drag performances.”