Senate Bill 147 would create zoning regulations around adult-entertainment establishments, not allowing them to be with one block of schools, churches, and parks. A portion of the measure targets what are called "adult cabaret shows," which originally included drag shows, but a floor amendment removes the word "drag" from the bill completely.
David Walls, executive director of The Family Foundation in Kentucky, says it is a simple, straightforward, commonsense bill "to protect children and families in the Commonwealth of Kentucky by protecting them from the adverse effects of adult businesses and inappropriate adult performances."
"Unfortunately, we've all seen an extremely concerning trend of some of these highly sexualized performances, sometimes even drag shows, that are being marketed to and targeting children taking place on public property," he observes.
Those efforts, Walls asserts, have increased.
In the committee hearing on the bill, testimony was heard from a drag queen organization in the state whose stated mission is to introduce children to these inappropriate performances, which Walls says "is obviously troubling to say the least."
But under SB 147, public property would be free of that sort of conduct and display. The measure overwhelmingly passed the Kentucky Senate last week, and his team is hopeful that the Kentucky House will take it up quickly.
Meanwhile, opponents claim they are concerned the bill may violate free speech rights.
