Paramore’s Hayley Williams speaks out on new Tennessee drag ban and trans healthcare bill
nme.comParamore‘s Hayley Williams has criticised two anti-LGBTQIA+ bills that have been proposed for her home state of Tennessee.Legislation was passed on Thursday (February 23) which, if signed by the governor, will make Tennessee the first state to criminalise drag shows.
The bill would make drag performances in front of children or in certain public spaces, including within 1,000 feet of a public park, school or church, illegal.
Politicians in 15 other states are reportedly pushing for similar laws to be introduced.On the same day, Tennessee House Republicans overwhelmingly passed a ban on young transgender people from receiving gender affirming healthcare, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery.
Patients currently receiving treatment would have to end it by March 2024.Williams took to Instagram to decry the legislation. “Once again our state has passed two regressive and unfathomably harmful bills,” she wrote on her Instagram story.“We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ family and local LGBTQIA+ orgs in this fight, not only for inclusion for our friends and family in the queer community, but for radical acceptance and empowerment for each of them.“Drag is not a crime.
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