Federal Judge Again Blocks Texas Drag Performance Restriction
A federal judge has for the second time ruled that Texas's law restricting drag performances in front of minors is unconstitutional. The judge said the measure violates free speech. Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to appeal.
The ruling marks the second time Judge Hittner has invalidated Senate Bill 12, which was enacted in March 2023 amid a wave of similar legislation across multiple states targeting queer and transgender rights. The law prohibited suggestive dancing and certain prosthetics in performances where minors could be present, labeling such acts as "sexually-oriented."
Hittner's decision noted the law's vague language could sweep in mainstream performers like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus, and even cited the late Dolly Parton as an example of an artist whose image might be deemed "prurient." The 5th Circuit had previously reinstated the law in 2025, allowing Paxton to enforce it until this latest ruling.
This ruling could have ripple effects beyond Texas, as similar drag restrictions were proposed in numerous states during the same legislative cycle. The decision may influence how courts elsewhere weigh free speech protections against efforts to regulate