Arizona Republican state senators are crafting legislation that will make it a crime for parents to let minors attend or participate in drag shows.

The move follows reports of a drag show last month at Tucson Magnet High School. A spokeswoman for Tucson Unified School District said the event, while on school property, was club activity coordinated by students and not staff.

But the Republicans, in proposing legislation, pointed out the effort was spearheaded by two school counselors who lead the LGBTQ+ student club, one of whom was later arrested on charges of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.

Sen. Vince Leach is leading the effort, noting Arizona is following suit of Texas and Florida which have their own similar legislation. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is supporting legislation there to make it a crime for a parent to take a minor to a drag show, complete with the risk of losing parental rights. And a Texas lawmaker is crafting a measure to bar minors from attending drag shows. Leach said Arizona needs to follow suit.

He added there is precedent for such rules with movie ratings and kids not being allowed in bars.

"Do you believe that a young first grader or a kindergartner should be hauled into a show, stuffing dollars bills into G-strings of a drag queen?" Leach said. "Do you think that's good for our society?"

Bridget Sharpe, state director of the Human Rights Campaign, called the legislation "harmful propaganda."

"Their statement is not at all about keeping kids safe,'' Sharpe said. "It's about riling up a small number of extremist base voters."