MONTGOMERY — Democratic lawmakers heavily resisted proposed legislation on Wednesday while debating a bill by House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) to ban drag queen performances in schools and libraries.
Lawmakers and members of the public packed into the small committee room at the Alabama State House as Stadthagen presented his bill before the committee and had a brief public comment portion.
House Bill 67 (HB67) would prohibit public K-12 schools and public libraries from knowingly presenting or sponsoring drag performances in the presence of a minor without the consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian.
It would also prohibit certain state entities from allowing minors to share certain facilities with members of the opposite sex during overnight programs operated or sponsored by the state entity unless the other individuals are family members of the minor and the minor's parent consents.
The second part of the bill's provision came due to drama last year after a Huntsville father revealed that Molly Bowman, a biological male who identifies as a female, would be working in the overnight camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp in Huntsville he planned to send his daughter.
Two people signed up for the public comment portion; both opined on the perceived adverse effects of the bill.
First to speak was Jeonna Mims, who goes by she/they pronouns and claims to have a trans child. The second speaker was Tish Warr, a social worker who lamented the bill as potentially "disastrous for all youth."
"I'm the parent of a trans child whose very existence is the topic of debate in this Alabama legislature," Mims said. "In just the past year, I've watched my brilliant child have their spirit broken as the state dictates what is allowed inappropriate in our lives, and now you are trying to interfere with where they can sleep on overnight field trips."
After public comment, State Rep. Marilyn Lands challenged Stadthagen on the bill's necessity and what caused it.
Stadthagen referenced articles from 1819 News and others where "men dressed as women in front of kids."
Lands interjected, saying she only recalled one instance of a so-called drag-queen story hour at a library, blowing off Stadthagen's concerns since that one instance involved a drag queen performer dressed as Mother Goose.
"I just feel like that so much of what we're doing here is overreach and a reaction, a very reactive measure, when there really isn't a problem there," Lands said.
The pair briefly quibbled over the sexual nature of drag performances before arriving at a fundamental disagreement.
"If a man is dressed as a woman in front of kids, pretending to be a woman, would you think that's appropriate?" Stadthagen asked.
"If it's part of theater or a performance, absolutely," Lands responded.
SEE: Children watch, give money to performers at Mobile Oyster City Brewing Company drag show
See also: WATCH: 'Family friendly' Birmingham drag show includes children collecting tips for performers
State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) chimed in to relate instances in his areas where drag queens were performing for children who placed dollar bills in the pants of the performers. He also harkened to 1819 News's reporting on a former Huntsville Middle School teacher who moonlighted as a drag queen.
"What happened was incredibly egregious and wrong," Yarbrough said. "So I think this bill is very good common sense."
Democratic State Rep. Barbara Boyd (D-Anniston) questioned the bill's motivation, suggesting it was promoting a "national agenda" by Republicans as "an attack that's coming on public education."
Representative Kelvin Lawrence (D-Hayneville) also spoke against the bill.
"I don't feel like people should be put in a box as to where they can't do what they feel like they want to do," Lawrence said. "This is America. This is the land of the free, home of the brave. So, I think in sticking with that, you know, we need to stop here, mandating things to certain groups of people because we don't understand them or how they live and resonate with how we want to live."
Ultimately, the bill passed the committee, with Lawrence and Lands being the only audible no votes. It now goes to the House for a full floor vote.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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