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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Letters to the editors: Lawmakers’ drag queen obsession, Engel as history center and more

Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / A deteriorated sign at Engel Stadium on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / A deteriorated sign at Engel Stadium on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

Legislators, quit your drag queen obsession

As of Jan. 15 of this year, there have been six men convicted or arrested of child sexual abuse/exploitation in Tennessee. Their occupations ranged from a former corrections employee to a church deacon, elementary school PE teacher, and county school employee.

What was one of the first bills that the Tennessee House passed in its first week in session? HB0885 further restricting drag shows in Tennessee. There have been exactly zero documented instances or official records of a drag queen being arrested for crimes against children this year.

The Tennessee General Assembly would do well to get over its obsession with drag queens and pass serious legislation that actually improves the lives of Tennesseans.

Rebecca Rochat