In a major victory for parents and families, a federal appeals court has upheld Texas Senate Bill 12, a law that restricts sexually explicit public performances — including certain drag shows — from taking place in front of children. The ruling marks a huge win for conservatives who have been fighting against the creeping normalization of sexualized content in public spaces under the guise of “entertainment.”
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered the decision this week, affirming that Texas has the right to protect minors from exposure to lewd acts masquerading as “art.” The court dismissed most of the plaintiffs’ claims, ruling that activities like “twerking” or giving hugs don’t rise to the level of “erotic conduct,” but explicitly noted that lap dances, thong-clad performers, and simulated sexual acts do — especially when children are present.
In plain English: the court recognized what millions of parents already know — there’s a big difference between a musical performance and a strip show disguised as a “drag brunch.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the win, calling it a “common-sense decision to defend Texas families.” Abbott had signed the bill into law back in 2023, posting proudly on X (formerly Twitter): “Texas Governor Signs Law Banning Drag Performances in Public. That’s right.”
Attorney General Ken Paxton, who fought tirelessly to defend the law in court, praised the ruling as a step toward restoring sanity. “I will always work to shield our children from exposure to erotic and inappropriate sexually oriented performances,” Paxton said in a statement. “It is an honor to have defended this law, ensuring that our state remains safe for families and children.”
Paxton also made clear that this fight isn’t just about one law — it’s about protecting the cultural values that hold families together. “We will continue to vigorously defend this legislation on remand before the district court,” he said.
The court’s opinion highlighted the kind of behavior that prompted lawmakers to act in the first place. According to evidence presented in the case, drag performers in Texas were engaging in graphic displays at so-called “family events” — including performers “sitting on customers’ laps while wearing thongs,” inviting audience members to “spank them,” and using prosthetic breasts to simulate nudity.
Judge Kurt Engelhardt noted that such conduct “raises genuine doubt that these actions are actually constitutionally protected — especially in the presence of minors.”
Predictably, the far-left ACLU of Texas was outraged by the decision, calling it “devastating.” In a statement filled with the usual progressive buzzwords, the organization vowed to keep fighting for “a Texas where everyone — including drag artists and LGBTQIA+ people — can live freely, authentically, and without fear.”
The irony, of course, is that the ACLU is using the First Amendment to defend public sexualization of children — a position most Americans find deeply disturbing. The group claimed that “drag is artistic expression,” insisting that “the First Amendment protects all artistic expression, including drag.”
But for parents and conservatives across the country, the Fifth Circuit’s ruling represents a turning point in the culture war — proof that decency and common sense can still prevail in the face of relentless woke activism.
As one Texas lawmaker put it succinctly: “If adults want to perform explicit acts, they can do it behind closed doors. But when children are watching, Texas will draw the line.”
