A Victory for Decency

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled on an important case to protect our children from the extremes of the radical LGBTQ philosophy.  

As we have reported, the LGBTQ movement has increasingly used drag queens in recent years as one of its primary methods for indoctrinating children. The explosion of “drag queen story hours” at public libraries and schools has outraged parents nationwide.

Last year, Tennessee legislators took action to prohibit exposing minors to certain types of “adult entertainment,” including drag shows, which often feature overtly sexual language and performances. Governor Bill Lee signed the Adult Entertainment Act into law, which was quickly challenged in the courts by the ACLU. Within months of the enactment of the bill, a federal judge blocked its enforcement. 

The good news is that Tennessee officials appealed that decision and recently won a big victory. A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the case, saying the plaintiffs’ suit lacked constitutional standing. More importantly, the judges declared, “. . . the law in this area is clear—there is no constitutional interest in exhibiting indecent material to minors.”

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti applauded the decision. “As a state overflowing with world-class artists and musicians, Tennessee respects the right to free expression. But as the Court noted, Tennessee’s ‘harmful to minors’ standard is constitutionally sound and Tennessee can absolutely prohibit the exhibition of obscene material to children.”

JDFI celebrates this important victory, and we applaud Tennessee’s elected officials who stood up in defense of decency.