Arizona Senate Republicans have advanced two bills — Senate Bill 1030 and Senate Bill 1028 — that aim to classify all drag shows as sexually explicit in need of state regulation and bans them from public property.
Proponents say these bills protect children.
Tucson Republican Justine Wadsack pointed to “drag story-hour” events, where drag artists read to kids in public libraries. She maligned them as predatory.
"Then you have to back up and ask yourself a very important question: Why? Why do grown men want to dress up as women and read to young children? That's probably the biggest question," Wadsack said.
All Democrats opposed. Sen. Juan Mendez of Tempe called the reclassification a blatant attack.
"Trying to redefine 'drag shows' as sexually explicit is a direct attack on marginalized communities. Conflating a drag performer with an adult-oriented business is dangerous, discriminatory and anti LGBTQ," Mendez said.
The measures are both likely to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. For now, they advance to the House.
