Page 13 - Braxton Mitchell News Today

On the final day of the Legislature, the bill passed through the House 63-33, and the Senate 29-21.

Montana is now the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading...

Montana is now the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading books to children at public schools and libraries.

House Bill 359 is likely to face a legal challenge.

The new Montana law HB 359 is unique among efforts by states to block drag performances as it does not require a sexual element to a performance for it to be banned.

Events where drag performers read books to children at public schools or libraries are now banned in Montana, following Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signing the bill Monday.

HELENA, Mont. — Montana has become the first state to specifically ban people dressed in drag from reading books to children at public schools and libraries, part of a host of legislation aimed at the rights the LGBTQ+ community in Montana and other states. Bills in Florida and Tennessee also

The bill bans both drag queens and kings from reading to children. The sponsor claims its because they do it

Bills in Florida and Tennessee also appear to try to ban drag reading events, but both require the performances to be sexual in nature, which could be up for interpretation. Both bills also face legal challenges.

The bill is the first of its kind because it doesn't require a sexual element for the reading to be banned, only that the reader be in drag.