Senate Committee Passes Bill Prohibiting Drag Shows on Public Property and in View of Children

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Above: Family Council President Jerry Cox (right) testifies alongside Sen. Gary Stubblefield (left) in support of S.B. 43.

On Thursday the Senate City, County, and Local Affairs Committee passed S.B. 43 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R – Branch) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville).

S.B. 43 clarifies that drag shows are a form of adult performance under Arkansas law. It also says that adult performances — including drag performances — cannot take place on public property or where children can see them.

Over the past few years public schools, colleges, and libraries in Arkansas have scheduled drag performances — including performances intended for children. Some of these events have been canceled following public backlash.

At public libraries in particular there has been a push to let men dressed in hyper-sexualized, female costumes read books to children. In some parts of the country events like these have exposed children and families to sexual predators.

Drag shows should not take place on public property or anywhere near children. S.B. 43 would protect children from these performances.

S.B. 43 now goes to the entire Arkansas Senate for a vote.

You can read S.B. 43 here.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Bill Filed Addressing Privacy in School Locker Rooms, Restrooms

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On Tuesday Rep. Mary Bentley (R – Perryville) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R – Jonesboro) filed H.B. 1156 addressing privacy in public school locker rooms, showers, restrooms, changing areas, and similar facilities.

The bill requires public schools to designate these facilities for “male” or “female” use.

In the past federal officials and others have tried to force public schools to let students use whatever locker room or restroom they want regardless of their biological sex. In some cases, this has threatened students’ privacy and physical safety.

That is why Family Council has said for years that Arkansas needs to pass legislation that will protect the privacy and safety of children in public school showers, locker rooms, and restrooms.

You can read H.B. 1156 here.

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Little Rock Libraries Continue Hosting Pro-LGBT Events

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The Central Arkansas Library System continues to list pro-LGBT events on its calendar.

For example, one library in Little Rock is hosting a “delightfully queer craft circle” sponsored by Teens 4 InQlusion — a Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) for teens and young adults — this month.

Last year the Central Arkansas Library System defended its decision to host pro-LGBT programs geared toward youth, noting that the programs are funded in part by the Arkansas LGBTQ+ Advancement Fund at the Arkansas Community Foundation, the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Olivia and Tom Walton through the Walton Family Foundation, and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

Family Council previously reported that the Arkansas Community Foundation awarded a grant to the Central Arkansas Library System to set up a Gender and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) for teens and young adults. The money is part of a $1 million fund that the Walton Family Foundation created to support pro-LGBT groups in Arkansas.

Unfortunately, public libraries in Arkansas have become a popular platform for promoting LGBT ideology and objectionable material to children and teens.

For instance, the Jonesboro public library has been at the center of multiple controversies — such as inappropriately hosting an LGBT Pride display in its children’s library, placing books with sexually-explicit images in its children’s section, and failing to adopt a policy that separates sexual material from children’s content.

That’s part of the reason voters in Craighead County voted to reduce funding for the library last November.

It should go without saying, but libraries don’t have to organize pro-LGBT events or promote inappropriate children’s books to be successful.

Public libraries are supposed to be a place where members of the community can enjoy books and learn about literature. These sorts of pro-LGBT activities are an unnecessary distraction for our public libraries.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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