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It turns out that even 150 years ago, legislators wanted to police gender expression in public spaces.  

 LGBTQ Tennesseans. Advocates worry that recently-passed legislation restricting drag performances in public spaces in Tennessee could be used to discriminate against them, and fuel the slew of similar laws being proposed in other states. 

how restrictions on drag shows have a history in the U.S.

Jules Gill-Peterson, a historian and professor at Johns Hopkins University, studies transgender history and the history of sexuality. She spoke with NPR's Ari Shapiro to highlight the history behind these types of laws. 

On whether first amendment rights were brought up with these previous laws: 

On what enforcement could look like, particularly at pride events in Tennessee this summer: 

Politics and Government News

Social Issues

Manuela López Restrepo

Author

It turns out that even 150 years ago, legislators wanted to police gender expression in public spaces.  


The anti-drag bills sweeping the U.S. are straight from history's playbook

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