Texas Sexy Cheerleading Ban Bill Goes Bust

FoxNews.com ^ | 15 May 2005 | Associated Press

[MikefromOhio]

AUSTIN, Texas — A bill approved by the state House to ban bawdy cheerleading routines apparently isn't going anywhere in the Senate this year.

The legislation prohibits "overtly sexually suggestive" cheerleading routines at school events and gives the state education chief the authority to ask school districts to review performances. It does not define sexually suggestive.

The House approved the legislation May 3 and sent it to the Senate Education Committee, where it is expected to die.

"We have some very important work to do in the next two weeks, and that's not one of them," Republican state Sen. Florence Shapiro (search), who chairs the education committee, said Friday.

Democratic Rep. Al Edwards (search), the bill's sponsor, has argued that sexually suggestive cheerleading (search) exhibitions are a distraction that results in pregnancies, dropouts and the contraction of AIDS and herpes.

[MikefromOhio]

It does?!?!?!?!?! I thought that is what happened AFTER the football games!! /sarcasm

[CrawDaddyCA]

Good, sometimes the half time cheerleading show is the best part of the game.

[MikefromOhio]

ya see, there you go :)

This stuff either isnt a problem in Ohio, or they just aren't doing it in the first place. and Ohio is just as football crazy as Texas is....

Not that I want any high schoolers dancing on brass poles or anything, but this isnt for the state legislature to get into....

[IMRight]

gives the state education chief the authority to ask school districts to review performances.

If there's a job opening there.... I bet it wouldn't be hard to find candidates for the post.

[yarddog]

Of course making it a law is nonsense but a few high school cheerleaders could make a good living in Vegas.

I am so old I can remember when they actually led cheers.

[MikefromOhio]

as little as 6 years ago, they still did...

I would be willing to bet something around 98% of them still do too...

[MikefromOhio]

probably not....

[Mike Bates]

Even years ago, cheerleaders like Chester Lott were too provocative:

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[MikefromOhio]

arrrgggh!!! no!!! :)

[yarddog]

It has been around five years since I have been to a high school football game but there was zero "cheerleading" at any of them. There was a lot of dancing and gymnastics tho.

I used to take photos for a small town paper at football games. I had a field pass, actually a ribbon. Our cheerleaders were pretty tame but every now and then a squad from an opposing team would just plain put on a show.

[MikefromOhio]

well as for the gymnastics, that is part of cheerleading IMO....

[greasepaint]

hb1476

[Calpernia]

They have nothing else to do?

[MikefromOhio]

LOL

apparently not....

[Calpernia]

Put a few heifers in cheerleader outfits, watch football ticket sales DROP!

[weegee]

The mother who brought this to attention conceded that legislation was not the best way to address this problem. She did want more accountability from the schools.

Coaches and other school officials were accomplices in some of the bawdy routines which included young teens in white "wifebeaters" with black bras on sitting on the gym floor, spinning around from the crowd to give the team a look at their crotch as they stopped spinning to do a sidekick "free show" for the guys (which receive the expected hoots and hollers).

Now if anyone thinks this is appropriate school sanctioned activity, stand up.

[MikefromOhio]

i dont think very many will on here...certainly I don't.

But it still isnt something for the state legislature to get involved in....

[weegee]

I think that the mother in question got involved when her daughters expressed shock at the routine they were being required to learn and the suggestive moves they would have to do. Something along the lines, "I don't have to do this, do I mom?"

Stripper mommy would say yes.

[weegee]

The mother also said that some cheerleading squad competitions have started to knock some teams out for their routines.

[connectthedots]

You have pictures?