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The governor of the southern US state of Tennesee has signed laws banning drag performances in front of children and restricting medical treatment for transgender young people. Drag queens and shows have become even more popular in recent years due to the TV show RuPaul's Drag Race. When the law comes into force next month, it will ban performances in public places or venues where they could be viewed by children. The statute is the first of its type to be enacted in the US. Similar laws have been proposed in many Republican-run states.

Republican state senator, Jack Johnson, said the laws were not intended to target any one group but to put age restrictions on "sexually explicit performances".

Novella Stella and Vandeja Voo, drag performers from Tennessee, told the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ how this new law affects them.

(Picture: A general view of drag performances on the Equality Stage during day 1 of Nashville Pride 2022 Credit: Mickey Bernal / Stringer)