A new wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills is spreading nationwide, and Tennessee is leading the charge. This includes a bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth and a law criminalizing drag performances on public property.
The anti-drug bills in the state have been fueled by fear-mongering from concerned parents and conservative Americans who believe that being exposed to queer content or public display harms children. But the fact is that exposure to queer art and culture helps young people find their voices and discover their paths to self-expression and identity.
These bills have also led to increased tensions in local communities as Republicans, and right-wing activists work to ban books about racial minorities or LGBTQ people, or portray these groups as explicitly sexual and inherently dangerous. As a result, anti-drag protests have become increasingly widespread throughout the state.
This is a direct result of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed in the state in 2015. GLAAD notes that the Tennessee legislature has enacted more anti-LGBTQ+ laws than any other state.
As a result of these laws, LGBTQ people in Tennessee are at risk of being discriminated against or killed. As a result, the LGBTQ community in Tennessee has suffered more than any other group in recent years.
In the wake of the Colorado shooting, LGBTQ organizations in Tennessee have asked lawmakers to withdraw their anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and keep the community safe. This is especially important as many anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been signed into law by the state’s politicians.
