in World News Montana Becomes First State to Ban Drag Queen Story Hour
by Paul Bois
Montana has become the first state in the union to ban drag queen story hour for children from public schools and libraries.
Signed by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte on Monday, the new bill essentially prevents children from attending “sexually oriented shows” and watching obscene performances on public property. The law further defines Drag Queen Story Hour as “an event hosted by a drag queen or drag king who reads children’s books and engages in other learning activities with minor children present.”
Republicans have long maintained drag shows targeted at children expose minors to sexually mature content that is inappropriate for young ages. LGBTQ advocates decried the law as an attack on their community.
“Montana’s new law criminalizing freedom of expression and art should be a red flag for everyone. The moral panic of drag has too long been a scapegoat for transmisogyny and overall transphobia in this country,” Jonathan Hamilt, the executive director of Drag Story Hour, told CNN.