Tennessee’s Governor Loves Dolly—But Not the LGBTQ People She Stood Up For
Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee has declared his support for renaming Nashville’s airport for Dolly Parton, days after the beloved singer’s death. “It is fitting that Nashville International Airport would bear the name of our state’s favorite daughter and greet travelers with the enduring legacy of Dolly’s music, generosity, faith, and kindness,” Lee wrote in […]
Tennessee's Governor Bill Lee has declared his support for renaming Nashville's airport in honor of Dolly Parton, marking a stark contrast to his history of anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Lee signed America's first ban on public drag shows in 2023, and has been known to defend faith-based adoption agencies' rights to refuse adoption to same-sex parents, rename Pride month "Nuclear Family Pride Month," and outlaw gender-affirming medical care for minors.
Dolly Parton, on the other hand, was an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, known for her hyperfeminine style and performances. Despite Lee's kind words, a drag ban in Tennessee, known as the Adult Entertainment Act, classifies drag as an innately "adult-oriented" or sexual act, which the ACLU of Tennessee claims creates an environment of fear and self-censorship.
Critics argue that such a ban could potentially criminalize trans people who serve tables at restaurants if they happen to serve a child. In 2023, Parton sent a rhinestone-covered guitar to Brigitte Bandit, a Texas drag queen, while Bandit was suing over a drag ban in Texas. The judge who struck down the Texas ban referenced Parton during his ruling, highlighting the constitutionality of her performances.
Lee's proposal to rename the airport in Parton's honor is currently under discussion, but advocates argue that lifting Tennessee's drag ban would be a more fitting tribute to the singer's memory.
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