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Texas law targeting drag shows could have criminalized the late Dolly Parton, judge ruled
Confirmed
A Texas law targeting drag show performances was struck down for the second time Tuesday by a Reagan-appointed judge who ruled that the law's "broad" language could even be applied to banning performances by Jennifer Lopez, Miley Cyrus and the now late Dolly Parton.
A federal judge name-checked Dolly Parton on Tuesday as he struck down a drag ban law in Texas on the same day the country icon’s death was announced. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) GOP LAWMAKERS URGE SUPREME COURT TO STRENGTHEN FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS FOR STREET PREACHER Hittner again found the law unconstitutional, offering advice for those against drag shows.
GEORGIA PRIDE GROUP RECRUITING KIDS AS YOUNG AS 13 INTO DRAG SHOWS SPARKS BACKLASH Hittner first struck down the law in September 2023 on five constitutional grounds, but while Texas’s appeal was pending, the Supreme Court issued its 2024 decision in Moody v. NetChoice , clarifying how courts must evaluate facial First Amendment challenges.
"Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched," her team said in a statement. Bills SB 8, SB 12, and SB1601 are scheduled for a hearing this Thursday. (Brandon Bell/ ) U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled that the law can not stand because it is "unconstitutionally vague" and "fails to give a reasonable person notice of what is prohibited," suggesting that any entertainers with sexual undertones in their performance could be penalized.
“Today, we get to celebrate a victory over an effort to intimidate our community into being quieter, smaller and less visible,” Kerry Lynn, founder of the drag production company Extragrams, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, said in a statement to The New York Times.
Dolly called me and said she wants to rest in a beautiful bed of plush cotton because, after a life of wearing heavy rhinestones, she finally deserves to be comfortable and have some rest. Texas officials vowed to fight the ruling and send the case to federal appeals court for the second time, after Hittner originally blocked it in 2023 shortly after the law passed.
"Drag has always been a form of free expression, and it is a relief that the court recognized that today," Bandit said in a statement. In his ruling, Judge David Hittner argued the law, SB 12 , was overly broad, poorly defined and infringed on First Amendment rights.
Having written thousands of songs across her decades-long career, Parton said songwriting was her greatest form of self-expression. "I thought, 'Ooh, that's what I want to be when I grow up — trash,'" Parton said.
What's confirmed
- A Texas law targeting drag show performances was struck down for the second time Tuesday by a Reagan-appointed judge who ruled that the law's "broad" language could even be applied to banning performances by Jennifer…
- A federal judge name-checked Dolly Parton on Tuesday as he struck down a drag ban law in Texas on the same day the country icon’s death was announced.
- A Texas law targeting drag show performances was struck down for the second time Tuesday by a Reagan-appointed judge who ruled that the law's "broad" language could even be applied to banning performances by Jennifer Lop
- GEORGIA PRIDE GROUP RECRUITING KIDS AS YOUNG AS 13 INTO DRAG SHOWS SPARKS BACKLASH Hittner first struck down the law in September 2023 on five constitutional grounds, but while Texas’s appeal was pending, the Supreme Cou
- "Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched," her team said in a statement.
- “Today, we get to celebrate a victory over an effort to intimidate our community into being quieter, smaller and less visible,” Kerry Lynn, founder of the drag production company Extragrams, one of the plaintiffs in the
What's still developing
- Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 12 into law in June 2023, which prohibits "sexually oriented performances" from occurring in public places or where someone under 18-years-old may be present.
- Bills SB 8, SB 12, and SB1601 are scheduled for a hearing this Thursday. (Brandon Bell/ ) U.S. District Judge David Hittner ruled that the law can not stand because it is "unconstitutionally vague" and "fails to give…
- GEORGIA PRIDE GROUP RECRUITING KIDS AS YOUNG AS 13 INTO DRAG SHOWS SPARKS BACKLASH Hittner first struck down the law in September 2023 on five constitutional grounds, but while Texas’s appeal was pending, the Supreme…
- Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, speaks during a primary election night watch party Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Dallas. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) GOP LAWMAKERS URGE SUPREME…
- However, Paxton, who is running for U.S. Senate, is able to appeal and said he intends to do so.
- "Drag has always been a form of free expression, and it is a relief that the court recognized that today," Bandit said in a statement .
- In his ruling, Judge David Hittner argued the law, SB 12 , was overly broad, poorly defined and infringed on First Amendment rights.
- He noted that the legislation , which threatens fines and jail time for people associated with “sexually oriented” performances, could impact a wide variety of performers, including the late Tennessee songstress.