The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Tennessee’s law restricting certain drag performances, allowing the 2023 measure to remain largely intact.
The law, which limits “adult-oriented performances” in public spaces or where minors may be present, was previously ruled unconstitutional by a Tennessee court, but a federal appeals court reversed that decision, saying the theater group that brought the challenge lacked standing.
The appeals court found the law only applies to performances deemed “harmful to minors,” while the theater group argued this interpretation unlawfully narrowed its scope.
Several Republican-led states have introduced similar laws, while advocates defend drag performances as a form of self-expression and inclusivity.
