Dolly Parton's breasts just struck down a Texas law

Hello — happy last-Friday-in-August and Happy Manchester Pride! A lot to get to this week.

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Here’s what’s on tap this weekend:

Plus: all the latest in gay travel news. Let's get into it. 👇

Dolly's impact lives on.

That’s right, even in death, the LGBTQ+ icon is still defending the rights of drag queens.

On the same day Dolly Parton died, a federal judge — appointed by Ronald Reagan, no less — cited Ms. Parton’s ample bosom to strike down Texas's drag ban.

Under the Texas law, performers faced fines up to $10,000, and up to a year in jail.

The judge ruled the ban was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech — one that, by its own logic, could have applied to Dolly herself.

"Just as many people criticized Elvis's signature hip gyrations and were offended by his display of male sexuality,” the judge wrote, “chastised Dolly Parton as a voluptuous sex symbol because of her big hair, flamboyant clothes and breast exposure, and shamed Miley Cyrus for 'twerking' on stage during a live performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, there are 'erotic' elements in countless popular performances that could be subject to both civil and criminal penalties under S.B. 12."

His advice for anyone offended by drag?

"The solution is relatively simple ... just don't go."

One of the plaintiffs, drag queen Brigitte Bandit, performs as Dolly on stage.
When Dolly found out, she sent her a signed rhinestone guitar.

“The Texas drag ban was blocked the same day we lost Dolly Parton,” Bandit said. “I couldn’t have ever guessed this day.”

“Drag is free speech, bitch!” she added.

Parton spent decades calling herself a "patron saint" of the LGBTQ+ community, back when saying that out loud cost you something in Nashville.

This week, a federal court made sure that legacy got the last word in Texas.

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A pro-Trump PAC recently dropped six figures on this transphobic AI-generated ad depicting Texas Senate candidate James Talarico in a dress, singing a song about forcing kids to transition.

It's not real, but the ad doesn’t disclose it was AI-generated. It’s been viewed millions of times online. And it’s one of six similar AI attack ads the same group is running against him.

This is a preview of how AI deepfakes will be weaponized against any candidate who supports trans people, immigrants, or anyone the far right wants to smear.

➡️ Sign our petition to get AI-generated ads out of political campaigns for good.