The governor of Tennessee has passed regulations restricting medical care for young transgender people and outlawing drag shows in front of minors.
LGBT and civil rights organizations pledged to file a lawsuit to prevent the medical care policy from going into force on July 1.
Meanwhile, those who break the new drag legislation risk spending close to a year in jail as well as a fine of up to $2,500 (£2,100).
The regulations were passed by Governor Bill Lee when inquiries arose regarding an old photograph that purportedly showed him dressed as a woman.
The drag law will prohibit “go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators” from giving acts “harmful to minors” in public areas or locations where kids might be present.
After a recent spate of like measures being suggested in Republican-run states, the statute is the first of its kind to be adopted in the US.
According to the Tennessean newspaper, one of its backers, state lawmaker Chris Todd, previously referred to drag events as “child abuse” regardless of what they featured.
But, other Republicans claim that the measure would not significantly impact drag shows, which are already permitted under Tennessee’s obscenity rules.
Democrats in the state legislature and other opponents of the proposal contend that Tennessee law already forbids sexualized performances in front of minors, making the new legislation unnecessary.
