A pair of bills that would criminalize adult cabaret performances in Missouri is awaiting a State Senate committee vote.
Both bills would make it a crime for female impersonators to perform on public property or anywhere in the presence of children. The first offense would be a Class D misdemeanor and any future offenses would be a felony. The version sponsored by State Sen. Rick Bratton, R-Harrisonville — SB 1164 — would also allow people to sue adult cabaret performers.
“It’s unfortunate that we have to come here and actually sponsor bills like this to put a stop to these sorts of behaviors that deal with sexually explicit material and actions for children,” Brattin recently told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He also called it “grooming” when female impersonators perform in front of children.
“Children stuffing dollar bills into the G-strings of these performers, very provocative,” Brattin said. “And these sorts of actions absolutely are grooming of children and are completely out of, just, out of bounds.”
The other, near-identical — SB 1476 — is sponsored by Sen. Joe Nicola, R-Grain Valley.
Opponents argued that eliminating public drag shows would be “culturally and educationally detrimental,” would violate free speech rights, and that current laws already shield children from sexually oriented performances. Chris Lehman is co-founder of Nclusion Plus, which helps to organize pride festivals in Jefferson City and Warrensburg. He testified against the bills.
“Families aren’t stumbling upon drag shows after crossing through metal detectors, police, security officers, and ticket booths,” Lehman said. “It’s just not happening.”
The State Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the Missouri Capitol. Whether the committee votes on these bills Wednesday is unknown.
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