The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival has issued a statement about a new Tennessee law that bans drag shows on public grounds or in the presence of minors.
Screenshot from Bonnaroo on Twitter
Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is publicly protesting Tennessee’s new law banning drag shows on public property or in front of minors.
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The four-day music festival, which is held yearly on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, released a statement on Twitter one day after Gov. Bill Lee signed the ban into law on March 2.
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The law prohibits “’adult-oriented’ entertainment, including ‘male and female impersonators’ from public property and [limits] it’s in an age-restricted location,” according to The Tennessean.
State Sen. Jack Johnson filed the legislation after controversy swirled around drag shows in Tennessee, including when Pride festival organizers planned to host a drag show in a park west of Nashville, the Associated Press reported.
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“Bonnaroo has and will always be a place for inclusivity, a safe haven for people of all walks of life and a champion of self-expression,” the statement reads with a photo of a festival-goer dressed in a rainbow-themed outfit. “Rest assured The Farm will remain a sanctuary for those freedoms and Bonnaroovians will see no changes in programming or celebration of self-expression at the festival.”
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The festival posted the statement on Twitter with a heart and a rainbow emoji. Festival-goers and fans rejoiced in the comments.
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“I think it’s fantastic that you posted this,” someone wrote. “Not everybody keeps up with politics[etc] and this message is nevertheless of great value. Thanks for laying it out for us today.”
Another Twitter user tagged the band Korn and joked the group should perform their set while dressed in drag.
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Some questioned what festival organizers would do to ensure “queer attendees will be protected from cops enforcing this law.”
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One person claimed the law “has nothing to do Bonnaroo or what happens there,” to which someone else replied, “There are drag shows at Bonnaroo (e.g. the Pride parade, House of Yes), and minors do attend the festival. So this bill is relevant for Roo.”
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On Instagram, some advocated for the music festival to leave the state and take tax revenue with it.
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“Leave TN for real,” someone commented. “Put your money where your mouth is and take those tax dollars away from the state.”
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The Tennessee Pride Chamber told the Associated Press the business advocacy group predicted that might happen in light of the law.
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“Tourism, which contributes significantly to our state’s growth and well-being, may well suffer from boycotts disproportionately affecting members of our community who work in Tennessee’s restaurants, arts, and hospitality industries,” chamber President Brian Rosman said in an email to the outlet. “Corporations will not continue to expand or relocate here if their employees — and their recruits — don’t feel safe or welcomed in Tennessee.”
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