MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama lawmakers are poised to debate a bill that would ban drag performances in public schools and libraries in the presence of minors without parental consent, as well as restrict minors from sharing multi-occupancy facilities like bathrooms and sleeping quarters with members of the opposite sex during state-sponsored overnight programs unless they are family members and have parental approval.
House Bill 67 (HB 67), sponsored by House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen, defines drag performances as “a performance in which a performer exhibits a sex identity that is different from the sex assigned to the performer at birth using clothing, makeup, or other physical markers.” The bill does not cite specific incidents of drag performances occurring in Alabama schools or libraries but has been described by its sponsor as both a preventive and protective measure.
Supporters of the bill have framed it as addressing cultural controversies and ensuring parental oversight. Stadthagen compared it to a fire prevention system, designed to avert potential harm before it occurs. However, critics, including LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, argue that the legislation is unnecessarily broad and infringes on constitutional rights.
Opposition has also focused on the absence of documented cases of drag performances in schools or libraries and the ambiguity of the legislation’s language, which critics say could lead to censorship and overreach. Advocacy groups have called it an extension of ongoing efforts in Alabama to marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals, pointing to recent laws that banned gender-affirming care for minors, prohibited transgender athletes from competing in school sports, and limited discussions of gender and sexuality in elementary classrooms.
The bill is expected to be debated in the 2025 legislative session. Alabama lawmakers have faced growing scrutiny for prioritizing cultural issues over more pressing statewide concerns, including the state’s poor rankings in education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Despite the controversy, HB 67 is likely to pass in the Republican-controlled legislature, reflecting Alabama’s continued role as a battleground for national culture wars.