In a move that has ignited fierce debate and widespread condemnation from LGBTQ advocates, Iowa lawmakers are advancing a bill that would make it a felony to bring a minor to a drag show. House Study Bill 158 (HSB 158), introduced by Rep. Skyler Wheeler (R-Hull), defines drag as any performance where an individual exhibits a gender identity different from their sex assigned at birth through clothing, makeup, or other accessories. Under this broad definition, critics argue the bill could criminalize transgender individuals for simply existing in public spaces while presenting as their authentic selves.
Legislation That Could Criminalize Transgender Visibility
While GOP lawmakers insist the bill is intended to protect children from “sexualized performances,” LGBTQ advocates warn that its vague language could have dire consequences for transgender individuals. The bill explicitly prohibits minors from attending any performance where a person’s gender expression does not align with their assigned sex at birth, regardless of the content of the performance.
“This bill is so incompetently written that it would effectively bar transgender people from speaking in front of minors or participating in theatrical performances,” said Max Mowitz, executive director of One Iowa. “It’s not just about banning drag shows; it’s about erasing trans and nonbinary people from public life.”
Under the proposed law, knowingly bringing a minor to a drag show would be classified as a Class D felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines ranging from $1,025 to $10,245. Businesses that host such performances could face fines of $10,000 per minor in attendance. Additionally, parents or legal guardians of minors who attend a drag event could sue for damages ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 per violation.
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A Dangerous Precedent for Free Expression
Many fear that this bill’s vague language could be used to target transgender people simply for existing in public spaces. Since it broadly defines a drag performance as any act where a performer presents a gender identity different from their assigned sex at birth while engaging in entertainment, even non-theatrical events like book readings, educational lectures, or public speeches by transgender individuals could become legally precarious.
“If I give a presentation at a school about LGBTQ rights, does that mean I’m ‘performing’ because I am a transgender man?” Mowitz asked. “The bill’s language suggests that any trans person who speaks publicly while presenting as their true self could be breaking the law.”
The concern is not unfounded. Similar legislation in Tennessee, which sought to ban drag performances in public, was challenged in court for its overreach and unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. That law was later upheld in a narrower form, but LGBTQ advocates in Iowa fear that if HSB 158 passes, it will have an even broader impact, especially in a state where Republican lawmakers continue to introduce legislation restricting LGBTQ rights.
Pushback from LGBTQ Advocates and Local Businesses
The backlash against the bill has been swift. LGBTQ organizations, local businesses, and allies have rallied in protest, arguing that the proposal is an overreach that diverts attention from real issues facing Iowans, such as economic instability, housing insecurity, and gun violence.
Bethany Fast, co-owner of The Little Book in Des Moines, called the bill “a blatant attempt to erase LGBTQ visibility” in an Instagram post featuring a photo from a recent Drag Story Time event. “No one is forcing children to attend these events. This is about fear-mongering and controlling what people are allowed to see and experience.”
The Blazing Saddle, an LGBTQ bar in Des Moines’ East Village, encouraged patrons to attend the subcommittee hearing on the bill, posting, “Suit up & show up because we aren’t going to give up!!” on Facebook. Protesters gathered at the Iowa Capitol on Tuesday, chanting “Trans rights are human rights” and “Drag is not a crime” as lawmakers debated the bill.
Legislative Supporters Argue ‘Protecting Children’ Is the Goal
Despite the backlash, Republican lawmakers defending the bill argue that it is about protecting children from “inappropriate” content. Rep. Helena Hayes (R-New Sharon) insisted that the legislation would be modified to ensure that it does not inadvertently ban minors from all theatrical performances. However, critics remain skeptical.
“You cannot say that if we want to address the content of drag performances, that automatically makes us anti-trans,” Hayes said. But LGBTQ advocates point out that this is just one of many anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year, reinforcing concerns that this is part of a broader attack on the community.
A Slippery Slope Toward Erasing LGBTQ Identities
One of the most concerning aspects of HSB 158 is its potential impact on transgender individuals who are not performers but simply live as their authentic selves. If a transgender person reads a book to children at a library, teaches a class, or even participates in a school play, could they be accused of “performing in drag” and thus violating the law?
“This bill is so dangerously vague that it could criminalize me for being a transgender man and giving a speech,” Mowitz said. “It’s not just drag performers at risk—this affects all trans people who live openly.”
Advocates fear that if the bill becomes law, it could set a precedent for further restrictions on LGBTQ rights in Iowa and beyond. By criminalizing public expressions of gender diversity, the law could embolden further efforts to legislate LGBTQ identities out of existence.
The Bottom Line
As the bill moves through the Iowa House Education Committee, LGBTQ advocates vow to continue fighting against what they see as an unconstitutional attack on free expression and transgender rights. Protests, petitions, and legal challenges are already in the works.
“This is not just about drag shows,” said Wren Martin, a parent who takes her 9-year-old son to family-friendly drag events. “This is about making it unsafe for LGBTQ people to exist in public. And we will not stand for it.”
The fate of HSB 158 remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the LGBTQ community and its allies are prepared to fight against what they see as a direct assault on their rights and freedoms. As lawmakers debate this latest piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation, all eyes are on Iowa to see whether the state will stand for equality or push its transgender citizens further into the shadows.
