A federal appeals court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a Tennessee law that protects children from viewing sexually explicit performances.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a group challenging a Tennessee law shielding kids from being exposed to sexually explicit drag shows lacked standing. A Memphis-based theater group called Friends of George’s had sued to overturn the law, claiming that it violated the First Amendment.
“But the law in this area is clear—there is no constitutional interest in exhibiting indecent material to minors,” wrote Judge John Nalbandian in the majority decision. “The only constitutionally protected expressions implicated by the [law] are adult-oriented performances that can be constitutionally restricted from minors but not from adults—a narrow slice of speech.”
In a dissenting opinion, Judge Andre Mathis said that the…
