Idaho Family Policy Center, a pro-family Christian ministry, celebrates the approval of our indecent sexual exhibitions bill (House Bill 230) by the Idaho House State Affairs Committee this morning. The legislation now moves to the House floor, where it will soon receive a full vote.
House Bill 230 would ban indecent sexual exhibitions – including drag shows, burlesque, and pole dancing – in public or other places where children might be present. The legislation was researched and drafted by Idaho Family Policy Center, and it is sponsored by Sen. Ben Toews (R-Coeur d’Alene), Sen. Ben Adams (R-Nampa), and Rep. Ted Hill (R-Eagle).
Importantly, the legislation uses the same indecency standard that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) uses to determine whether content is appropriate for daytime television. Idaho Family Policy Center President Blaine Conzatti explained the indecency standard during an introductory committee hearing last week, which can be viewed below.
According to statewide public opinion polling, more than 70% of likely Idaho voters support banning drag shows and other sexual exhibitions in public places where children are present.
A statement from Edward Clark, Policy Assistant for Idaho Family Policy Center, who co-presented House Bill 230 to the House State Affairs Committee this morning:
In our society, the innocence of youth is constantly under attack—and children are sexualized on every front. In the State of Idaho, these attacks have taken the form of live performances – like drag shows and pole dancing – that expose children to explicit sexual conduct.
Today, the Idaho House State Affairs committee acknowledged what the people of Idaho already know – that our children must be protected from hyper-sexualized performances in public places. We look forward to seeing this bill pass the House in the coming days, and we call on others to stand with us in protecting the children of our great state.
