A bill in the Iowa Senate would essentially criminalize adults if they take minors to a drag show.

Senate File 348 would ban anyone under the age of 18 from attending drag shows at any business in Iowa. District 24 Senator Jesse Green (R-Boone) believes this bill was introduced following a drag show at an Ankeny public school last year where some parents were upset about their kids seeing that kind of a performance. He gives his opinion about the proposed legislation and how he views the bill taking away parental control.

“It’s unfortunate that we have to have this conversation but I certainly think that this is a no-brainer that we need to protect our young ones as much as we possibly can. We have to draw boundaries in society as to what is appropriate for minors to be looking at and how we educate minors, and stuff like that. In my mind I put this in the realm as certain explicit material that we don’t allow kids to do. We don’t allow kids to go to adult shows.”      

Jefferson resident Toni Wetrich has taken her kids to drag shows in the past and she shares her thoughts about why she opposes this bill.

“The thing about the legislature wanting to ban it (minors from attending drag shows), first to me is just like, ‘Why?’ Because it’s not even really a big problem. There really are very few drag shows in Iowa that are all ages. But when they’re doing an all ages show, they are no different than watching somebody in a costume doing karaoke. I think parents should be able to have a choice to say, ‘This is what I want to take my kid to,’ and you do and if you don’t, you just don’t. Again it’s just kind of like where does it stop?”          

Wetrich says that while she’s a fan of drag shows, she also wanted her kids to be exposed to different cultures so they can better understand how others live their lives. 

Other parts of the bill outlines the charges an adult could face if they knowingly take a minor to a drag show, along with fines for businesses that allow minors into a drag show. Click the link below to see the bill.

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=90&ba=SF348