The innocence of American children is at risk, as far-leftists continue their unholy crusade to brainwash the minds of minors with revisionist history, transgender ideology, and psychological warfare against traditional, moral values. The state of Tennessee is currently setting the example on legislation that matters.

In autumn, state officials rebuked the Vanderbilt University Medical Center for performing and promoting genital mutilation surgeries. This led to “The Rally to End Child Mutilation” held in Nashville, featuring state legislators, federal officials, and conservative personality Matt Walsh. A coalition against what the far-left calls “gender-affirming care” was established, and garnered immediate national attention.

The bicameral body of Tennessee’s legislature has taken more severe measures since, passing a bill that would effectively ban “drag queen” shows on public grounds, or in areas where they could be viewed by children. Another bill prohibits genital mutilation surgeries for minors, and Governor Bill Lee has now signed both pieces of legislation, implementing the most stringent laws in the country protecting children from gender perversions.

Republicans across the country would do well emulate Tennessee in fighting for children against the far left. After all, it’s terrifying all the right people.’

Margaret Renkl bemoaned the legislation in the New York Times this week, risibly claiming these “drag queens” were doing nothing more profane than priests, Scotsmen, or Robin Williams:

It’s worth noting that a lot of men out there are wearing a lot of garments that look a lot like dresses. Priests, for instance. Judges and justices. College graduates and Scotsmen in formal wear. Actors in “Mrs. Doubtfire” and “Hairspray,” both of which are on the new schedule at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Are they all now obliged to don trousers?

Renkl goes on to criticize the legislation for not concentrating on the everyday “grooming” children are subjected to outside of the scope of genital mutilation surgeries and public, sexually-explicit drag shows. The problem with these critiques is that she never directly addresses why it is so wrong to protect children from these obscenities, but instead, to move the goalposts to other issues she disagrees with in how the legislature has crafted policy.

Furthermore, the surgeries on minors are never addressed; the fact that drag shows are banned on government property and not privately is not mentioned; and Renkl avoids the discussion of whether kids should be seeing this stuff, entirely. Shifting the goal posts is one thing, but the column manages to migrate an entire football field.

We are in a cultural war for the country’s sanity and soul, and the sooner voters realize it, the more protected American traditional values will be. The fact that this has become a partisan issue is concerning enough. And “establishment” Republicans have to understand what time it is. Our fight is no longer about a few percentage points on the tax rate, a few billion on the budget, or indeed about the general size of government.

It’s about good versus evil. And it’s time to pick your sides, and choose your weapons. Tennessee has given us a great start.