'We will lose our rights': LGBT community of Arkansas speaks out against SB43

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — On Monday, Arkansas lawmakers proposed a new bill that would amend a current law; changing its definition of "adult-oriented business" to insert drag performances in adult live entertainment establishments.

This includes but is not limited to adult arcades, an adult bookstore or video store, an adult cabaret an adult motion picture theater, an adult theater, a massage establishment that offers adult services, an escort agency, and a nude model studio.

Members of the LGBT are speaking out about the bill and say a change in the law could compromise more than just the integrity of their community. It would also affect people who choose to dress freely day to day and average social entertainment.

"As a member of the LGBT community and with my pronouns being they and them, it directly affects me every day," Deloris Wilk-Executive Director of Central Arkansas Pride, says. "I dress differently than my assigned gender. This is what I'm comfortable in. If this bill passes, I cannot perform karaoke at a local venue. I cannot perform in my church's choir. Think about it."

Wilk said also said if the bill passes, Central Arkansas Pride would no longer be able to host its highly anticipated pride event held in October.

MD Hunter, a popular drag performer whose stage name is Athena Sinclair, says as an entertainer, the bill would directly major events that are brought into the state that generate significant revenue for businesses.

"If this bill passes, we can't Miss Gay America or any of these events," Hunter says. "Theater is a main thing that it's going to affect because perform in the opposite gender all of the time. I think that the biggest aspect of this is that people don't actually know what drag is."

Our content partners at 40/29 News report that Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R - Dist. 26) and Rep. Mary Bentley (R - Dist. 54) sponsored the bill and say it is about protecting children.

"It's destroying these kids' innocence," Stubblefield told 40/29. "They're no longer kids. They're seeing things that they shouldn't be seeing."

"It's prohibiting any drag queen performance in front of where minors are present," Bentley said to 40/29.

KATV reached out to Stubblefield for a direct statement but was unable to make contact Wednesday.

States like Arizona and Utah have similar bills that restrict the hours of operation for drag performers or prevent them from performing in public venues.

The Arkansas bill states that an adult-oriented business cannot be located on public property or anywhere where a minor could view the adult-oriented business.

The bill also adds location restrictions to drag performances, specifically adding location restrictions to an adult-oriented business.

In a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas (ACLU) the organization said:

Laws like SB43 are a red herring and more broadly attempt to erase LGBTQ people from public life by forcing gender norms onto private businesses and individuals. These laws are fueled by the same paranoia banning books from our libraries and censoring teachers for treating all their students the same. But this bill is even more extreme, defining drag performers simply as people who “exhibit a gender identity” different from their gender assigned at birth and “perform” for two or more people.

According to 40/29, Stubblefield and Bentley said they don't think they'll have any problems getting their bill passed due to the large Republican majority in both the State House and State Senate.