Tennessee law restricting drag shows ‘unconstitutionally vague,’ federal judge rules

A new Tennessee law that strictly restricts drag performances in public or where children could be present was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge.

"There is no question that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment. But there is a difference between material that is ‘obscene’ in the vernacular, and material that is ‘obscene’ under the law," Parker said in his ruling. 

He added, "Simply put, no majority of the Supreme Court has held that sexually explicit — but not obscene — speech receives less protection than political, artistic, or scientific speech."