Texas Senate Passes Bill To Defund Pro-Drag Libraries

The Texas Tribune reports:

The Texas Senate on Wednesday approved two bills aimed at restricting drag performances that children attend or see. One of them, Senate Bill 1601, would defund public libraries where drag queens are allowed to read to children. The other, Senate Bill 12, bars kids from drag shows if the performances are overly lewd and lascivious.

SB 1601 was approved in a 19-10 vote. SB 12, which is a priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick this session, was approved in a 20-11 vote. Both bills now head to the House.

SB 1601 does not tie its financial penalties to the performers’ behavior — and essentially targets all libraries’ drag queen story hours, which are aimed at promoting literacy and encouraging children to read.

Read the full article. The sponsor of SB 1601, Sen. Bryan Hughes [photo], appeared here last month for his bill that would raise taxes on bars that host drag shows. Last year Hughes last appeared here when his bill to force public schools to display “In God We Trust” posters went into effect. In 2021, he appeared here for his bill banning criticism of white supremacy in history lessons.

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Texas Senate votes to defund libraries where drag queens read to kids as it tries to limit the performances kids can attendhttps://t.co/X8Ed13vCB2

— KRGV CHANNEL 5 NEWS (@krgv) April 5, 2023