A Missouri state lawmaker has filed a bill that would ban drag shows from including minors in the audience.
HB494 was filed on Dec. 20 by Rep. Ben Baker (R-Newton). If approved it would prohibit children from attending drag queen shows where there obscenities are used, create an offense with penalties for engaging in an adult cabaret performance and prevent adult performance content in public spaces where children could have access.
“Enough is enough,” Baker posted on Twitter. “There is no such thing as a family-friendly ‘Drag Queen’ event. As a Dad of 4 daughters, I’m extremely concerned about what is being allowed in public spaces accessible by minors.”
The proposed legislation also would extend the statutory definition of adult cabarets to include libraries, restaurants and bars.
“Minors can't buy tobacco because they do not have the mental ability and the decision-making ability to understand that life choice," said Andrew Wells, Missouri state chapter president of No Left Turn in Education. "And when you talk to the pornography addict experts, they will all tell you that every one of their clients started their addiction as a minor because they got their hands on pornographic material.
“That's why this is so important.”
Following the filing of the bill, Sen. Bill Eigel (R-Weldon Spring) sent a letter to Chesterfield Mayor Bob Nation warning him that a holiday drag show scheduled to take place at The Factory at 17105 North Outer 40 Road could potentially violate state and local statutes that protect children from exposure to pornography.
“I urge you to take immediate action to ensure the venue does not allow anyone under the age of 18 to participate in the event,” Eigel wrote.
However, Nation told the St. Louis Post Dispatch that requiring an age limit at the event was in process before Sen. Eigel’s letter had arrived.
“The person in charge of law enforcement for the venue is not the chief of police,” Wells added. “The person in charge of law enforcement is actually the mayor. Bill Eigel wanted to make sure the mayor realized that it was potentially a violation of state statute if they allowed minors to go in there.”
The Factory eventually altered its all-ages promotion.
However, Meramec Township Democratic Committeewoman Laura Burkhardt said imposing age limits is government overreach.
“I don’t fault whoever made this decision,” she posted on Twitter. “I fault the self-proclaimed ‘freedom warriors’ who feel the need to dictate what other families do with their children.”
Wells argues that protecting children from obscenities is not government overreach due to existing law.
“If it is sexually explicit content, you can't do it in front of a minor,” he said. “I don't care if the parents choose to or not. It is not the parent's choice because a child does not have the mental capacity to decide whether or not that is inappropriate for them. Children don't have that concept.
"That's why we have laws that say pedophilia is illegal.”