The state of Montana passed a new law which is banning drag queen story hour and will prohibit drag queens from reading children's books and engaging in other learning activities with minors present..The legislation, Bill 359, which went into effect immediately after being signed Monday, also prohibits minors from attending drag shows..The law also bans drag performances from occurring on public property where children could be present..“A school or library that receives any form of funding from the state may not allow a sexually oriented performance or drag story hour ... on its premises during regular operating hours or at any school-sanctioned extracurricular activity,” the legislation states..“A sexually oriented business may not allow a person under 18 years of age to enter the premises of the business during a sexually oriented performance.”.The owner, operator, manager, or employee of a sexually oriented business who is convicted of violating the new law shall be fined not less than $1,000 or more than $5,000 for the first offence, not less than $2,500 or more than $5,000 for the second offence, and third and subsequent offences be fined $10,000..“If applicable, the county or municipality shall revoke the business license held by the offender,” the new law states..Republican Rep. Braxton Mitchell sponsored the new bill..In April, Mitchell said “In my humble opinion, there’s no such thing as a family-friendly drag show.”
