Paxton tries to revive Texas A&M drag show ban
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an appeal Tuesday to reinstate Texas A&M's drag show ban, aiming to reverse a federal judge's temporary block.
Catch up quick: A federal judge ruled on March 24 that Texas A&M's ban on drag performances violated the First Amendment.
The court sided with the student group behind Draggieland, an annual on-campus drag show, calling the university's resolution a viewpoint-based restriction on protected speech.
The ruling allowed this year's event to go on as planned last Thursday.
State of play: Paxton's appeal seeks to revive the ban, arguing that drag shows promote what he describes as offensive and unlawful behavior.
"These filings aim to ensure that our educational institutions are focused solely on promoting academics, not a woke agenda," Paxton said in a statement.
The big picture: The case is part of a broader push by the GOP in the US and Texas to restrict transgender rights.
The Trump administration's January executive order bars federal funding from institutions that promote "gender ideology." Paxton is using that to justify bans like A&M's.
Plus, the Texas Legislature has filed more than 100 anti-trans bills this session, many targeting drag, education, and gender-affirming care.
Zoom out: The A&M case is one of three drag-related lawsuits Paxton is defending in federal court.
Spectrum WT v. Wendler involves restrictions on drag performances at West Texas A&M University. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, sending it back to a federal appellate court, which has a hearing scheduled for April 29.
Woodlands Pride v. Paxton challenges the state's broader drag show ban.
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