Labrador joins multi-state coalition in support of Tennessee's Adult Entertainment Act

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — According to a recent news release, Attorney General Raúl Labrador joined an 18-state coalition supporting Tennessee's defense of its Adult Entertainment Act (AEA).

The release says the law does not ban drag shows and applies only to certain forms of adult entertainment that are sexual or explicit performances. The law does not prohibit those performances, but it requires this type of adult entertainment to occur in adult-only zones and prohibits such entertainment on public property.

"It is the opinion of my office that the District Court in Tennessee made a significant error in ruling against the AEA. The Court misrepresented the law as a way to rule against it. Tennessee does not ban drag shows as it suggests but merely requires such acts to not occur around children, similar to other types of dance. The statute primarily prohibits indecent performances featuring nudity and sexually explicit content. We have a moral and legal obligation to ensure this ruling does not stand. I am proud to join other Attorneys General in appealing this wrong decision," Attorney General Labrador said.

The statute prohibits performances including "nudity, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, excess violence or sadomasochistic abuse" that "appeal[s] predominantly to prurient, shameful or morbid interests of minors" in a "patently offensive" way that "lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors."

This law imposes the same restrictions on drag performers as any other sexually explicit performances, based on longstanding rules with adult establishments.

Attorney General Labrador joined Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia on the amicus brief led by South Carolina.

The full brief can be read HERE.

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