If you’re a cheerleader in Texas, you better watch how you move. Literally.
In the Isn’t There Any Area Of Modern Life In Which Some Politician Doesn’t Want To Insert Government Control Department we point to this new vital area that may soon see government regulation:
The Friday night lights in Texas could soon be without bumpin’ and grindin’ cheerleaders. Legislation filed by Rep. Al Edwards would put an end to “sexually suggestive” performances at athletic events and other extracurricular competitions.
“It’s just too sexually oriented, you know, the way they’re shaking their behinds and going on, breaking it down,” said Edwards, a 26-year veteran of the Texas House. “And then we say to them, ‘don’t get involved in sex unless it’s marriage or love, it’s dangerous out there’ and yet the teachers and directors are helping them go through those kind of gyrations.”
Under Edwards’ bill, if a school district knowingly permits such a performance, funds from the state would be reduced in an amount to be determined by the education commissioner.
Edwards said he filed the bill as a result of several instances of seeing such ribald performances in his district.
Does this mean in addition to the office of Homeland Security there will be an office of Hooters Security? And I do mean “security.” But the story indicates some in Texas welcome the move (the proposed regulation, that is):
I.M. Farias, owner of Austin Cheer Factory, said cheerleading aficionados would welcome the law. Cheering competitions, he said, penalize for suggestive movements or any vulgarity.
“Any coaches that are good won’t put that in their routines,” he said. And, most girls cheering on Friday nights were trained by professionals who know better, he said.
“I don’t think this law would really shake the industry at all. In fact, it would give parents a better feeling, mostly dads and boyfriends, too,” Farias said.
FOOTNOTE: Lest you think this is coming from a conservative Republican, it should be pointed out that Edwards was state chairman for Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaign in the 80s. His bio is here. The thirst to have government get increasingly involved cuts across party lines.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.