A federal judge has ruled that a Texas law that would have restricted drag performances is unconstitutional, in violation of the First Amendment. The law, signed by Governor Greg Abbott, did not specifically cite drag performances, but LGBTQ advocates feared it was intended to criminalize the art form. The ruling has been celebrated by LGBTQ advocates, who argued that the law would have had a chilling effect on drag performances and other forms of expression. Judge Hittner concluded that the law would have wrapped up a large amount of constitutionally protected conduct in its enforcement.
Posts tagged as “S.B. 1248”
Florida lawmakers are introducing a bill, S.B. 1248, that would require the state's Division of Elections to cancel the filings of any political party that has previously advocated for or been in support of slavery or involuntary servitude. The bill would also change the voter registration of those affected to “no party affiliation” and provide procedures for them to update their affiliation. The bill is part of a larger effort by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis to score headlines ahead of a potential 2024 presidential campaign launch and has been met with criticism from some who argue that it is an attempt to suppress the votes of certain groups. The bill is currently being considered by the state legislature and is expected to be voted on in the coming weeks.