In a move that should make every red-blooded, dust-inhaling Lubbockite sleep easier tonight, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has officially cleared the way for Senate Bill 12. Starting March 18, Texas can finally get back to the business of policing what people wear on stage. The law—which Governor Abbott and Ken Paxton are championing like they just won World War III—aims to slap a $10,000 fine on businesses that host “suggestive” performances in front of children.
Of course, there’s a hilarious catch. The court actually pointed out that most of the plaintiffs (drag queens and Pride groups) aren’t actually doing anything “erotic” enough to break the law. Apparently, “twerking” and “front-facing hugs” don’t quite meet the legal definition of “prurient interest.” In a rare moment of accidental shade, the judges basically told the state that most drag shows are too PG to even fall under the ban.
Naturally, Ken Paxton is taking a victory lap anyway. Our favorite indicted-then-acquitted Attorney General issued a press release claiming he’s “shielding our children” from “erotic” performances. Because, as we all know, the biggest threat to a kid in West Texas isn’t crumbling infrastructure, failing power grids, or a lack of mental health resources—it’s the terrifying possibility of seeing a man in a wig do a death drop at a brunch spot.
The ACLU of Texas is still fighting back, noting that the law is so vague it could technically apply to everything from Shakespearean theater to professional wrestling. So, keep an eye out, Lubbock: the next time a guy in spandex gets suplexed at the Fairgrounds, Ken Paxton might just be hiding under the ring with a pair of handcuffs and a tape measure.
If the state is this worried about “simulated contact with buttocks,” are they going to start arresting the Masked Rider for slapping the horse, or is that “tradition”?
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/06/texas-drag-show-ban-appeal/
