Fifth Circuit Upholds Texas Drag Ban

On February 25, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling upholding Texas’s prohibition on sexually explicit drag performances in front of minors. This decision affirms what Texas parents have said for years: children deserve protection from adult-themed entertainment, and the state has both the authority and the responsibility to draw clear boundaries.

Texas Family Project stands fully behind this ruling! The Fifth Circuit recognized safeguarding minors as a legitimate and compelling interest, and Texas lawmakers acted within their constitutional powers to ensure children are not exposed to sexualized performances masquerading as “art.”

For years, we have been on the front lines, exposing drag events aimed at or marketed to minors. The footage we documented was seen by millions of people. Nobody believed these events were happening in their communities, especially in Texas. Thanks to our crew and news outlets who shared the footage, we were able to bring widespread awareness to the issue.

Not only were we exposing these events, we were also shutting them down. We shut down 20 “child friendly” drag shows over the last couple of years because people like you answered our action alerts. When we put pressure on the ones trying to indoctrinate and sexualize our children, they tucked their tails between their legs.

This ruling is not an attack on anyone's freedom, no matter what the left says. Children should not be pulled into sexualized performances. The Fifth Circuit agreed! Protecting minors does not violate free speech, and the state can act to uphold community standards without apology.

This decision should encourage lawmakers to finish the work they started to protect children from dangerous drag performances: closing loopholes, enforcing existing statutes, and standing firm when pressured by radical activists. Unfortunately, local law enforcement often doesn’t take action against these events out of fear of pushback. We can, in fact, protect our children from these events, and we should continue to fight them with full force.

Texas Family Project will continue exposing inappropriate events, educating Texans, and holding officials accountable. Our mission is simple: protect children, strengthen families, and preserve the values that make Texas strong.

The Fifth Circuit has spoken. Texas was right. And the fight to keep children safe goes on.