Tenn. drag queen, citing 1969 Stonewall riot, vows to fight back if ban passes: 'Not a threat but a promise'

A Tennessee resistance queen vowed to "fight for liberation," aft authorities lawmakers passed a measure restricting resistance performances successful nationalist aliases successful beforehand of children.

The projected bill, HB0009, which passed successful nan Tennessee location pinch a 74-19 ballot connected Thursday, seeks to prohibition resistance show performances connected nationalist spot aliases successful a spot wherever nan capacity could beryllium seen by a minor.

While it does not explicitly sanction resistance shows, nan authorities intends to prohibit "adult cabaret entertainment" that is "harmful to minors," including "male aliases female impersonators who provide intermezo that appeals to a prurient interest, aliases akin entertainers."

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Drag performer arguing pinch protesters astatine resistance queen communicative clip event, extracurricular Old Nick's Pub successful Eugene, Oregon, October 23, 2022.  (Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard via AP)

If passed, nan bill, now headed to Gov. Bill Lee’s, R., desk, would criminalize specified performances, making it a misdemeanor for first-time offenses and a felony for 2nd offenses to clasp a resistance show successful public, which carries up to six years successful situation and a $3,000 fine, FOX 17 reported.

Republicans successful nan authorities contended that resistance shows tin consequence successful nan "sexualization" aliases "grooming" of children, but resistance fans and performers, including Memphis-based resistance queen Slade Kyle, opportunity nan measure is intended to portion distant their rights.

In a now-viral video from past week, Kyle, dressed successful drag, urged communities to conflict backmost against nan measure comparing nan effort to nan 1969 Stonewall rebellion, an arena wide cited arsenic nan opening of nan modern LGBT authorities activity which saw barroom patrons and others fight back against officers and a societal bid that kept cheery life successful nan shadows.

NORTH DAKOTA HOUSE APPROVES BILL THAT WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO HAVE DRAG SHOWS IN FRONT OF CHILDREN, IN PUBLIC

FILE - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee answers a mobility while taking portion successful a sheet chat during a Republican Governors Association convention connected Nov. 15, 2022, successful Orlando, Fla.  (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

"The original Pride was a riot and this twelvemonth we request to punctual them that we will conflict for our liberation," Kyle 42, said. "We will raise our bricks up precocious again and fto them cognize that we will not spell quietly."

Kyle told BuzzFeed that resistance "saved my life," calling disapproval that it's "ugly aliases intersexual aliases wrong" profoundly "offensive" and "not true."

"There is simply a batch of fearfulness among my performers," Kyle said, adding that "others are worried astir their expertise to salary rent aliases provender their children, and nan trouble of uncovering different employment opportunities arsenic trans aliases gender-nonconforming people."

With Gov. Lee expected to motion nan bill, Kyle said trans activists for illustration Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who are credited pinch throwing nan first ceramic astatine constabulary successful nan 1969 barroom raid, are inspiring resistance performers crossed nan authorities to conflict back.

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"It’s a reminder that we will conflict for our freedom, if necessary. It’s not a threat. It’s a promise," Kyle said. "And I americium terrified to person to clasp that committedness … but we person to conflict moreover if we’re terrified. Nobody wants to person to beryllium nan adjacent Marsha P. Johnson."

A resistance queen articulator syncs a opus for Pride Month connected nan children-centric YouTube transmission Queer Kids Stuff. (Queer Kids Stuff/YouTube screenshot)

If passed, nan prohibition is scheduled to spell into effect April 1. 

Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.