Bill to ban drag shows in public libraries gets favorable report

April 29, 2025 – The Senate County and Municipal Government Committee voted to advance controversial legislation that would have banned drag shows in Alabama public schools and libraries.

House Bill 67 (HB67) is sponsored by state Senator Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle).

As passed by the House, HB67 prohibits public K-12 schools and public libraries from presenting or sponsoring drag performances and state entities from allowing minors to share facilities with members of the opposite sex during overnight programs.

State Senator April Weaver (R-Briarfield) carried HB67 in the Senate.

"I believe that parents know what is best and appropriate for their child," said Sen. Weaver.

Senator Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) said, "I have gotten a lot of calls from schools and theater organizations about this bill."

Sen. Elliott said that he had an amendment that would exempt schools from the legislation.

"The amendment limits it to libraries and excludes K-12 institutions entirely," said Sen. Elliott.

Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham) said, "This amendment is sticking it to the library boards.'

Elliott replied, "This amendment has nothing to do with library boards."

Elliott said that drag shows have been a problem in Alabama libraries; but not in schools.

The Elliott amendment weakening the bill to just libraries was adopted.

There was a public hearing on the bill.

Zephyr Calvetti spoke against the bill.

"I am a transgender man," said Calvetti. "I am legally redefined as a woman."

Calvetti is a woman who has taken hormones so appears as a bearded man.

"If you are wrongly banned your only remedy would be to sue the library," said Calvetti. "I am not playing a character. I am standing up for the rights to wear the clothing that I want."

Ted Holley spoke in favor of the bill.

"I was transgender - I lived for 12 years that way," said Holley. "What you are hearing on the other side is not true."

"Drag queen shows are grooming children to be transgenders," continued Holley. "It damages them for life. This agenda is very aggressive."

"I urge you to pass this and put schools back in," said Holley. "We do not want drag shows."

Chris Hathcox spoke in opposition to the bill.

"Courts have ruled these laws unconstitutional for fifty years," Hathcox said. "The bill limits gender to the sex assigned at birth."

Hathcox said that the "Man at the Mobile Library dressed as Mother Goose is not illegal. It does not violate the obscenity ban."

Susan Stewart also spoke in opposition to the bill.

"Are we really going to go back to where we tell people how to dress in library performances?" said Stewart.

Aaron DeJeager claimed that the purpose of the bill is, "To erase transgender people."

Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) said, "My concern is that this is a cultural distraction."

"I am embarrassed by this," said Sen. Hatcher. "We are not living in normal time and what we are doing to a minority segment of people is nothing short of disgraceful. Please let the parents decide what their children can and cannot attend."

The Committee voted to give SB67 – as amended by Sen. Elliott – a favorable report on a 6 to 3 vote.

The bill, which has already passed the House, is now in position to be considered on the floor of the Alabama Senate.