Dolly Parton cited in judge’s Texas drag ban strike down

Dolly Parton has been cited by a judge striking down a proposed drag ban in Texas. READ MORE: Dolly Parton, 1946-2026: the Queen of Country was a unifying force in a divided world Senate Bill 12, which was passed in 2023, bans “sexually oriented performances” from public venues and places where minors may be present. Though bill doesn’t explicitly state that drag is the target, Texas governer Greg Abbott has previously referenced the bill as a drag ban. The bill penalises venues for hosting such performances with fines of up to $10,000. Performers can also be charged with misdemeanor. Though the bill was struck down by US District Judge David Hittner in 2023, an appeal was made, which brought the bill into effect in March. Now, Hittner has once again struck down the bill. Hittner said that the bill was too vague in describing performances with a “prurient interest in sex”, which could potentially affect freedom of expression. Hittner argued, for instance that late country icon Dolly Parton has been a highly-recognised figure and sex symbol due to her “big hair, flamboyant clothes and breast exposure”. “There are ‘erotic’ elements in countless popular performances,” he reasoned, goi...