Tennessee Governor Bill Lee wants to ban drag shows by law. Adult conversations in public or in front of minors are therefore punishable. Meanwhile, an old-school photo of the ultra-conservative Republican in a wig and cheerleader suit is causing a stir.
The governor of the US state of Tennessee, Bill Lee, wants to sign a law soon that bans drag performances. At the same time, the Republican has to explain himself to a school photo from 1977 that is supposed to show him in a woman's dress. The picture was posted on the Reddit internet platform last weekend under the title "Governor Bill Lee in Drag".
The proposed law prohibits adult entertainment in public or in front of minors. This includes, for example, performances by strippers and go-go dancers as well as imitations of men or women - including drag shows - according to the text of the law. Violation of this regulation is punished as an administrative offense the first time, and a criminal offense if it is violated a second time. The draft was passed by the state legislature last week. For the new law to go into effect, it still needs to be signed by the governor.
The 63-year-old called the comparisons between the performances listed in the bill and the old yearbook image "ridiculous," The Tennessean newspaper said. He did not comment on whether he can actually be seen in the photo. Lee's spokesman Jade Byers said, "The bill specifically protects children from obscene, sexualized entertainment, and attempting to mix this serious issue with fun school traditions is dishonest and disrespectful to Tennessee families," according to the Tennessean.
According to NBC News, some drag performers called the governor's reluctance to compare the yearbook photo to a drag show as hypocritical. "He says, 'It's okay for straight people to do this, but not for the gay community,'" said Denise Sadler, who has been in drag shows for more than 20 years. "That's the message he's giving to people."
