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Karine Jean-Pierre on Tennessee Drag Law: Unacceptable and Unfortunate

Karine Jean-Pierre on Tennessee Drag Law: Unacceptable and Unfortunate

Karine Jean-Pierre
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Karine Jean-Pierre

The White House press secretary blasted Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for signing a bill restricting drag performances.

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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Friday blasted Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee for signing into law a bill that restricts drag performances in his state.

The American people are concerned about the economy, safe communities and schools, and good health care, the out press secretary said at a press briefing. “Instead of doing anything to address those real issues that are impacting American people right now, you have a governor from Tennessee who has decided to go after drag shows,” she said.

“What sense does that make to go after drag shows? How is that going to help people’s lives who are thinking about the economy, who are thinking about making sure their kids are going to be safe when they go to school, their communities are safe? But that’s what he wants to focus on.”

“It’s part of a larger pattern from elected officials who espouse freedom and liberty but apparently think that freedom of speech extends only to people who agree with them,” Jean-Pierre continued.

Lee signed the bill into law Thursday. It redefines “male and female impersonators” as adult cabaret performers and bans “adult-oriented performances that are harmful to minors.” Drag performances could not take place on public property or in venues accessible to minors. He also signed legislation banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

Lee supported the anti-drag bill even though he was found to have posed in drag for a high school yearbook picture in 1977. He claimed that the picture was far different from the kind of performances the legislation would ban. Opponents of the anti-drag bill said it is unnecessary, as obscene performances are already banned by Tennessee law, plus it further marginalizes LGBTQ+ people. Jean-Pierre echoed those concerns.

Lee “hasn’t been able to cite any examples — anything — to show that drag shows in public spaces are a problem,” she said, adding “These ridiculous policies aren’t just unnecessary, they are dangerous, they vilify our fellow Americans at a time when LGBTQ+ Americans are facing higher risks [of] violence, mental health issues, and it’s unacceptable, it’s completely unacceptable for a governor to be moving in this way with such a bill, and it’s also unfortunate.”

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.