Montana has become the first state to ban drag shows from public spaces, a Montana lawmaker told the Daily Caller on Wednesday.
Republican state Rep. Mitchel Braxton, who sponsored House Bill 359, defined the measure as “an accomplishment by the state of Montana.” Braxton explained that the bill prohibits drag performers from putting on shows in front of children or in any venue owned by an entity that receives government funding. (RELATED: ‘Leading The Way On Culture Issues’: Montana Passes Bill To Ban Drag Shows In Front Of Minors)
“We can set foot on the ground here and start something across the country that many other states are going to follow,” Braxton said.
Opponents of Montana’s legislature criticized the measure as an attack on the Constitution an infringement of the First Amendment. Braxton disagreed.
“There’s no First Amendment violation there,” he said. “The legislature and the governor have full purview and oversight over what goes on at taxpayer-funded facilities because we know they’re the central controller.”
In fact, he claimed, people “cross-dressing and performing sexual acts in front of kids can be seen as a violation of the First Amendment.”
Braxton also attacked LGBT legislators for pushing an ideology onto children that can leave them confused. “[Kids] don’t understand any of that stuff … It’s damaging to a child,” he said.
“More voters in Montana, obviously, set a clear message in November that don’t want hyper-sexualized events in our public schools, libraries and public places,” Braxton continued “Fortunately, here in Montana, we have a governor who recognizes that drag performers shouldn’t be reading books and grooming children at locations and facilities that receive public funding. As the youngest member of the legislature down here, and after hearing from many folks in my generation who have noticed some of these events, I’m glad that I could get this common sense built on the finish line. And I hope other states follow because this has gone too far.”
Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed HB359 on Monday. The new law will take effect immediately.
This article has been updated to correct the date on which the legislation takes effect.
