“A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” – Deuteronomy 22:5
On June 18, 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 12, the “Ban on Drag Queen Shows for Kids Bill.” This law gives Texas officials the authority to regulate sexually explicit performances drag shows by banning them on public property and in the presence of those under the age of eighteen.
On August 3, 2023, the ACLU and other pro-LGBT organizations filed a lawsuit against SB12. In late September of 2023, a Houston Judge issued a permanent injunction against the law, blocking it from going into effect.
The Judge stated that the law unconstitutionally restricted free speech and violated the First Amendment. Shortly after, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed this ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Days ago, Praise be to God, the New Orleans-based federal appeals court lifted the lower court’s order banning SB12, thus giving Texas the go-ahead to enforce the law while the legal challenge continues. The reality is, there is absolutely no constitutional right for drag queens to target our children with sexually explicit performances. Children in Texas will be protected from those who want to put on inappropriate drag shows in front of them, as it is now an enforceable criminal offense.
In 2024, the Kentucky Senate passed legislation similar to the Texas law in this case (SB 147 by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor). However, the House did not bring it up for a vote. Sen. Tichenor remains committed to getting legislation on this topic over the finish line, hopefully during the 2026 legislative session.
LET US PRAY…
Father, we praise You for the good and right ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to protect children in Texas. Lord, may states all across our nation work to implement similar laws to protect American children from targeted “sexualization.” Father, empower our Kentucky legislature, specifically, to pass a law like this Texas one, here in our Commonwealth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.