Public hearing held on HB67, a bill to restrict drag performances and require sex-separated spaces at camps and similar programs

The committee opened a public hearing on HB67, a two-part bill the sponsor described as protecting children by restricting certain performances and by requiring sex-separated accommodations at camps and similar programs.

"There's 2 parts to this bill and what you're gonna realize is this bill in both parts is protection of kids," Representative Stadhagen (identified in the transcript as the sponsor) told the committee. He said the bill would prevent situations where "men dressing as women" appear in front of children and said the measure would ensure "if you're a girl, you stay in the girl's section. If you're a boy, you stay in the boy's section."

Two members of the public testified against the measure during the three-minute public-comment period. Gianna Mims, who identified herself as a parent of a transgender child, said the bill "will actively harm trans Alabamians and kids that want nothing more than to exist in peace and dignity. Please vote no." She described being unable to show her child “the love of Jesus when you're using your interpretation of a religious text to enforce the agenda.”

Tish War, a licensed social worker, told the committee the bill’s definition of drag is "immensely broad and vague" and warned it could be applied in bad faith to a wide range of common clothing choices and performances. "Under this definition if someone doesn't conform to another person's taste in clothing they could argue that this person is in violation of this law," War said, and argued the bill risks policing children in public spaces.

Committee members questioned the sponsor. One member cited news accounts of incidents and asked whether theatrical performances such as a man in costume reading Mother Goose would be banned; the sponsor said theatrical performances could be appropriate, but committee members disagreed on the line between theater and obscene or explicit conduct. One member described local incidents involving sexually explicit conduct at adult shows and said the bill responds to real events. Another member raised concerns about governmental overreach and urged consistency in when the legislature imposes mandates.

Representative Stadhagen said the bill is similar to prior measures and was intended to address occurrences "all over the state," including Mobile. The hearing record shows no committee vote on HB67 on the date covered by the transcript; the item remained in the public-hearing phase after testimony concluded.