It isn't inconsequential to me, and I'm a straight woman. I have family and friends with various gender identities.
It surely isn't inconsequential to the drag performers in Tennessee, or to those in the other dozen or so states that are working to pass similar laws.
It isn't inconsequenial to the LGBTQ+ community, as it is one more weapon of "demonization" being used against them.
And where does it end?? The TN law includes "male and female impersonators"...
Men impersonating women, and vice versa?
At its core, the law is a mandated public dress code. The assumption is that dresses, wigs, and makeup are for women. That would imply that "pants are for men." How long -- once the "dresses are for women only" idea is allowed and normalized, as you seem to be OK with -- before the "pants are for men only" idea is next? I see this as not only a threat to actual drag performers and LGBTQ+ people, but also as a future threat to all women. I can see a push for a return to "gender norms" when it comes to attire, even the ridiculous (for now) sounding notion of outlawing two-legged attire on women in public places. And then I suppose we ladies should just quietly don our frocks and focus on important things like inflation?
Does that sound far-fetched? Consider the current state of the GOP and the "conservative" bent towards rescinding the rights of women already. Roe vs Wade, for starters.
I strongly disagree that the topic of banning or restricting drag shows is inconsequential. It matters -- a lot.
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