Trump-appointed judge tells Tennessee Republicans to take a hike
When judges rule against Donald Trump, he calls them “Obama judges” or “Clinton judges.” Perhaps they are, but plenty of judges he has appointed have ruled against him as well, like two of the three Eleventh Circuit judges who put Aileen Cannon in her place. We never hear about them from Trump because Trump is an idiot who lives to inflame his followers. He doesn’t care about right, wrong, truth, or fiction. All judges who have ruled against Trump have done so because they follow the law, regardless of appointment. Trump doesn’t care because he loves the chaos, the controversy, and the anger he stirs up in people. His appointed judges, however, continue to follow the law.
Trump appointed Judge Thomas Parker to the United States District Court in Tennessee. In March of this year, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a bill into law to restrict public drag shows across the state. Once again, a Republican governor creates a “first” of which he is proud, but which merely shows how Republicans consistently try to regulate behavior. CNN called Tennessee the “first state” to restrict drag shows, and it certainly won’t be the last, as Florida governor Ron DeSantis has signed his own similar bill (Tallahassee Democrat) to “protect children.” Okay, so how many parents out there are allowing their children to attend “adult live performances?” None. These bills are merely sneaky attempts to ban drag shows, and DeSantis went farther by forbidding governmental entities to issue licenses. Nothing new here; just Republicans suppressing other people’s freedoms.
The bill Lee signed limited “adult cabaret performances on public property so as to shield them from the view of children,” according to CNN. Interesting that they always use children, who will never go to an “adult cabaret performance” of any type. Lee specifically named “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest.” They have to make it “dirty.” There are plenty of non-lustful, decent people who enjoy drag shows, but politicians like Lee can’t be bothered with facts. They’d rather enforce their own beliefs onto others. Judge Parker was having none of it.
In his ruling, Judge Parker labeled the “Adult Entertainment Act” an “unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech.” The suit was brought by a group named Friends of George’s, which is a nonprofit that produces drag shows and comedy sketches. It’s called entertainment, people. If you don’t like the Rolling Stones, don’t buy a ticket, but don’t try to stop others from buying tickets. Republicans want authoritarianism, but they’re not going to get it if presidents appoint judges who rule based on the merits of the law and Constitution. Chalk up one for Donald Trump since he nominated Judge Parker.
CNN reported that Parker issued a 70-page ruling that, in pertinent part, said: “The AEA was passed for impermissible purpose of chilling constitutionally protected speech.” The very notion that drag shows are harmful to children is ridiculous. How many children attend drag shows? Parker made the correct ruling, and it is hopeful that judges-regardless of appointment-continue to honor the law and the Constitution.
Shirley is a former entertainment writer and has worked in the legal field for over 25 years