A Texas MP’s defense of wearing a dress raises questions about his bill, which would classify drag shows as sexually oriented.

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When is a man in a dress inherently sexy, and when is it frivolous fun? If you ask Rep. Nate Schatzline of Fort Worth about the time he wore a dress for a school theater project, it was just a joke. But when it comes to other men performing in dresses in bars, it’s sexy.

At the very least, under the law he proposes, drag venues should be classified as “sexual orientation businesses,” subject to additional taxes and licensing restrictions.

House Bill 1266 went to the House State Committee on Friday, two days after a video of Schatzline wearing a dress emerged. Video shows MP frolicking in a black dress with classmates during his school years.

A clip from years ago was posted on Twitter by Democratic activist Michelle Davis. Democratic groups lashed out at the video, pointing out Schatzline’s hypocrisy in a dress while filing legislation to regulate drag shows.

The freshman rep dismissed teasing and punishment on social media. reply to video.

“Leftists are attacking me because of some cool project I did as a teenager when my buddies dared to wear a dress,” Schatzline said in the video.

And on Twitter, he wrote: “This is not a transvestite show of a sexual nature.”

But Schatzline’s bill makes no distinction between a sexually explicit drag show and a man in a dress performing in a theater, bar, nightclub, or other commercial business. Schatzline was unable to answer questions sent to The Texas Tribune this week.

HB 1266 Schatzline is one of four bills filed by a handful of Texas Republicans that target drag shows. The law will expand the list of establishments that are considered sexually oriented. The bills want to include any establishments that allow performers to wear clothing or make-up that displays “a gender identity different from the sex of the performer assigned at birth.” Under this definition, Schatzline’s performance – wearing a dress for recreational purposes – would be defined as a drag.

So far, none of the bills defines what types of clothing or makeup legislators consider indicative of which gender. The legislators also didn’t explain why clothes or make-up make someone look sexy.

In response to questions sent to the Tribune, Sen. Brian Hughes, R-Mineola, said in a text message: “There could be some new language next week.”

Jonathan Gooch, a spokesman for Equality Texas, an LGBTQ advocacy group, said a lot of drag is not sexy. He also said it was so broad that it could trap businesses and activities that lawmakers aren’t trying to regulate.

“There are a whole bunch of things that don’t fit into the definition of resistance but are covered by this bill,” Gooch said.

If passed, the law will have a broad impact on small and large businesses across the state — from coffee shops to bookstores to theaters — because it will require them to choose between ending drag events or accepting additional licensing requirements and taxes. Critics say the proposals stem from lawmakers’ deliberate misrepresentation of resistance.

The three lawmakers who drafted a similar law did not respond to Tribune requests for comment.

While drag shows, in which men most often dress up as women in exaggerated styles, have been a mainstay of the LGBT community for decades, there has been a buzz about lively entertainment in recent years as far-right protests led by extremist groups have attracted conservatives to participation. protest against these events under the guise of “child protection”. They claim that drag performances sexualize children. Schatzline said in a video posted to Twitter that the purpose of his law is to “prohibit sexually explicit drag shows and preserve the innocence of the next generation of Texas.”

The legislation’s broad characterization will apply to drag shows that do not have sexual elements. Organizers of transvestite story hours, during which performers read children’s books, often in a library or bookstore, said the events were not even remotely sexual in nature. The two drag queens contacted by the Tribune did not respond to comments.

Under this legislation, these events and other non-sexual performances by drag queens will be considered inappropriate for children. The law will force these establishments to be classified as sexually oriented establishments, which will restrict their operations.

The legislation’s inclusive language would place a significant burden on small businesses, Gooch said, noting that some establishments classified as “sexually oriented” would have to pay $5 per visitor, regardless of show content. Senate Bill 1018, filed by Hughes, the author of one of four drag show bills, would increase this “drag show tax” to $20 per customer.

Hayk Khajinazarian, deputy director of communications for the Texas Democrats, said the broad definition of resistance could be interpreted in many ways and would create headaches for businesses if the law becomes law.

“Can the theater put on a production of The Rocky Horror Show?” Hajinazaryan said. “Or a number of Shakespearean plays where women are dressed as men or vice versa?”

Hajinazarian said GOP lawmakers are drawing attention to drag queens to anger their base over what he calls “minor issues.”

“Let’s talk about performance,” Khajinazaryan said. “It’s really just clickbait.”

Disclosure: Equality Texas provides financial support to The Texas Tribune, a non-profit, non-partisan news organization funded in part by donations from members, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Financial sponsors play no role in Tribune journalism. Find their complete list here.

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