The bill that is feared to be used to criminalize drag performances in Texas was finally signed this past Sunday, June 18, by Governor Greg Abbott.
Contrary to other bills that the veteran politician has recently signed, for this measure he did not hold a press conference or receive a statement announcing that as of September 1 this type of show is governed by a new regulation.
Even Senator Bryan Hughes, co-author of SB-12, also did not communicate it through his official Facebook or Twitter accounts or on his page. But the one who did share the news on his Twitter account was the other co-author of the measure, Matt Shaheen.
SB-12 expressly prohibits the actual or simulated fondling, actual or simulated arousal, and display of a sex toy, if done in a “lewd” manner in front of a minor or on public property.
Activists had already called attention to SB-12. They do not favor it because they affirm that drag artists only want to express themselves and not be disrespectful. “That groping is not going to be seen. We try not to let it happen out of respect for families. Many of us are parents, brothers, uncles and we want the same respect,” César Alexis Villareal, an LGBTQ tactical force, explained to Telemundo 40 last May. in Brownsville.
The law also prohibits the use of male or female enhancement accessories or prosthetics in front of a minor. But that’s not all, failure to comply with the measure implies up to a year in prison and a fine of up to $4,000. For businesses that open their doors to these shows, the fine is $10,000.
A bill passed by both houses of Texas is about to be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, and the LGBTQ community fears the measure will be used to criminalize drag performances.
