Tennessee

A Federal Judge Has Temporarily Blocked Tennessee’s Drag Ban

Published

2 years ago

April 4, 2023

A Federal Judge Has Temporarily Blocked Tennessee’s Drag Ban

The day earlier than the nation’s first anti-drag regulation was set to enter impact, a federal choose briefly blocked it for violating the First Modification.

U.S. District Decide Thomas Parker issued the 15-page determination in Pals of George’s v. Tennessee on Friday. The plaintiff, a nonprofit group primarily based in Memphis that produces performances that includes drag, in addition to comedy sketches and performs, filed a movement to briefly block the regulation final Monday. The plaintiff argued that the Tennessee regulation is unconstitutional as a result of it’s a content-based restriction on speech, and since it’s overly obscure.

The regulation, as handed in February, bans “grownup cabaret performances,” together with “male or feminine impersonators,” from happening in public or any location the place the efficiency may very well be considered by a minor. A primary violation of the regulation is classed as a misdemeanor; subsequent offenses carry felony prices punishable by as much as six years in jail and a superb of as much as $3000.

The plaintiffs expressed a concern of prosecution, since its subsequent efficiency is about to happen on April 14.

“Within the meantime, Plaintiff has to attempt to promote tickets whereas deciding whether or not it ought to add a beforehand pointless age restriction, cancel the present, or danger legal prosecution,” the choice reads. “These should not trifling points for a theatre firm — definitely not within the free, civil society we maintain our nation to be. Defendants’ strategy would have Plaintiff, and people equally located in Tennessee, eat the proverbial mushroom to seek out out whether or not it’s toxic.”

The court docket sided with the plaintiff’s arguments that the regulation unfairly targets drag performers themselves, noting that Tennessee’s obscenity legal guidelines already cowl a lot of the bottom that the drag ban supposedly does. The court docket additionally agreed that the language of the laws was problematically broad, questioning the definitions of “public property” and “a location the place an grownup cabaret leisure may very well be considered by an individual who just isn’t an grownup.”

“Does a citizen’s personal residence rely? How a couple of tenting floor at a nationwide park?” the choice reads. “What if a minor looking the worldwide internet from a public library views an ‘grownup cabaret efficiency’?”

Accordingly, the regulation is blocked from implementation for 14 days, pending additional litigation. Pals of Georges issued a assertion on Friday celebrating the victory, with the group’s president of the board of administrators stating that they received “as a result of it is a dangerous regulation.”

“We look ahead to our day in court docket the place the rights for all Tennesseans shall be affirmed,” Campell stated. The assertion additionally notes that every Pals of Georges “raises hundreds of {dollars} for different Mid-South organizations that help or affirm the LGBTQIA+ inhabitants.”

Advocates have raised issues that the obscure language of the Tennessee regulation, and others prefer it, may very well be used to prosecute trans and gender-nonconforming folks merely current in public. At the very least 40 drag bans have been thought-about in state legislatures throughout the nation to this point this yr, in line with legislative monitoring performed by unbiased researchers Allison Chapman, Alejandra Caraballo, and Erin Reed.

Get the perfect of what’s queer. Join Them’s weekly e-newsletter right here.

Source link

Related Topics:drag drag queens Featured

Click to comment

Tennessee

With I-40 damaged from Helene, how will it impact holiday traffic in Tennessee? What to know before you go

Published

1 hour ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

With I-40 damaged from Helene, how will it impact holiday traffic in Tennessee? What to know before you go

Are you taking a road trip this holiday season?

You’re not alone. AAA experts predict 71.7 million travelers to be on the roads nationwide around Thanksgiving, a 1.3 million increase over 2023 numbers.

In East Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Transportation Spokesperson Mark Nagi anticipates the highways being “very busy.” Road damage and closures add even more complication and congestion to the already-crowded roads.

Tropical Storm Helene caused grave damage to Tennessee and North Carolina highways when the storm swept through on Sept. 27. Months later, road damage continues to be top of mind for drivers.

“We’re continuing to work to get these roadways and bridges open as quickly as possible,” Nagi said.

Interstate 40 remains closed across the Tennessee and North Carolina state border after a mudslide wiped out a portion of the highway. The North Carolina Department of Transportation has a plan to reopen two-way traffic in the gorge, but not in time for Thanksgiving or Christmas travel.

To make travel a bit easier, there will be no temporary lane closures from noon on Wednesday, Nov 27, through 6 a.m. on Dec. 2, according to Nagi. However, this does not apply to long-term closures like I-40 where roads are closed for damage.

Tips for holiday travel

Knowing that highways in East Tennessee could be extra busy this year, Nagi shared some road trip tips to make the holiday travel easier.

Download the SmartWay app, or look at the road closure map online.
Give yourself extra time to travel. Leave early if you can.
Try to avoid travel during peak times, including Wednesday, Nov 27.

Where is I-40 closed?

Still, you’re unable to drive across the Tennessee state line into North Carolina on I-40.

In Tennessee, there is one lane of traffic open in each direction between Mile Marker 446 and Mile Marker 451 at the state line. Commercial traffic cannot go any further than Mile Marker 440 on I-40 East, according to Nagi.

The highway is closed in both directions from Mile Marker zero to 20 in North Carolina.

How many people travel across I-40 at the gorge?

I-40 is a major thoroughfare through the Southern Appalachian Mountains. The stretch of I-40 in North Carolina that was damaged by Helene supports about 7,610 trucks daily and a total average daily traffic of over 26,000 vehicles.

Alternate route: Use Interstate 26 through Erwin

You can use I-26 through Erwin to cross the state line. This route option reopened in late October, according to Nagi. There is one-lane two-way traffic through the area.

Nagi said there would likely be more traffic on this route through the holiday travel season.

Alternate route: Use Interstate 81 and Interstate 77

From Knoxville, travelers can head north on I-81, which connects with I-77 toward Charlotte. It’s more miles, but you can eventually get to Ashville and other areas of North Carolina from there.

Source link

Tennessee

Country music singer arrested for drug possession in Tennessee

Published

9 hours ago

November 19, 2024

Press Room

Country music singer arrested for drug possession in Tennessee

Jamey Johnson was arrested for drug possession and speeding in Williamson County, Tennessee, on Sunday.

Saving Country Music was first to report the news, and TMZ confirmed it.

The arrest took place just more than a week after the release of his first album in 14 years, “Midnight Gasoline.”

News Channel 5 reports Johnson posted a $5,000 bond before he got out of jail Monday.

“We can confirm that Jamey Johnson was arrested on Sunday, Nov. 17 in Williamson County. The incident is still under investigation,” the Tennessee Highway Patrol wrote in a statement.

Johnson has served as a Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Strait and others.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

Source link

Tennessee

Lions Sign Former Titans LB

Published

17 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Room

The Detroit Lions are adding a former Tennessee Titans draft pick to the practice squad ahead of Week 12.

Detroit announced Monday that former Titans linebacker David Long Jr. has signed with the team’s practice squad after standout linebacker Alex Anzalone was placed on injured reserve due to an arm injury.

Long Jr. started out the season with the Miami Dolphins but was waived on Nov. 13. He sat out due to injury when the Titans beat Miami as Hard Rock Stadium in Week 4. In six starts and eight appearances for Miami this season, Long Jr. totaled 38 tackles (26 solo).

Originally a sixth-round pick by the Titans in the 2019 NFL Draft, Long Jr. spent four years in Tennessee and proved to be a consistent presence for head coach Mike Vrabel’s defense. During his time with the team, he played in 50 regular-season games and made 26 starts while posting 230 total tackles (15 for loss), two forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups and four interceptions.

He also started two of five playoff appearances for Tennessee while tallying 27 total tackles and a sack in the postseason. Long Jr. played in the Titans’ AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 Playoffs.

He then signed a two-year, $11 million deal with Miami ahead of the 2023 campaign. Long Jr. immediately became an impact player for McDaniel, finishing his debut season with the Dolphins with a career-best 113 total tackles to go along with one sack and one forced fumble.

Though Miami decided to move on from his this season, Long Jr. now has a chance to eventually contribute to arguably the best team in the NFL. The Lions are currently 9-1 and coming off a 52-6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. This matched their point total from the 52-14 win over the Titans on Oct. 27.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Source link