Dear [Your Elected Official],

<p>I urge you to vote NO on HB884 on the House floor on Thursday.</p> <p>It is not clear what this bill applies to. Questions arose in the House committees about whether the bill might apply to some of the actions at professional wrestling events, for example. That  lack of clarity presents dangers to performers and venues because they do not have certainty about how to comply. They should not have to risk arrest or other penalties because of a vague law.  If it is used to apply to drag performance it is important to know that drag is a long-standing artform and not inherently “adult-oriented entertainment.” It is a protected form expression under the First Amendment and state governments should not attempt to restrict the guarantees of the Bill of Rights.</p> <p>It is also important to be clear about recent court rulings on the 2023 Adult Entertainment Act. The Sixth Circuit said that the plaintiffs did not have standing. The Supreme Court chose not to take up the case. That is not the same thing as a positive appraisal of Tennessee's existing law. A federal judge has, however, blocked Florida’s drag law from going into effect for now. Another case in East Tennessee is ongoing. A federal district court just recently ruled that Texas A&M University could not ban drag shows.</p> <p>Increasing the number of venues that are classified as adult-oriented establishments creates burdens of restrictive regulation for more venues/businesses and it creates more burdens for city and county governments with respect to enforcement. Mistakes at the local level in enforcing this vague bill will compromise it. This proposal is a risky, burdensome, and unnecessary intrusion into First Amendment rights.</p> <p>Thank you for considering my views.</p>