Cheerleaders and band majorettes in Texas could soon be barred from performing bump-and-grind routines in an effort to make Friday-night football games more “family friendly,” according to a Bill working its way through the state legislature.
Representative Al Edwards of Houston proposed last week to bar “sexually oriented” performances during sporting events at Texas high, middle and elementary schools.
“The way they’re moving their bodies, it’s not twirling or doing the splits. Those majorettes are doing things that are sexual,” said Edwards, a 26-year veteran of the statehouse.
“The legislation said we don’t want to see that any more or we might cut your funding later.”
Edwards said the sexually suggestive routines send the wrong message to teenagers.
Cheerleading is a huge industry involving millions of American students at primary, high school and college level. There are competitions for children as young as four and Texas is home to some of the most feverish participants.
“If you’re in Texas, you start when you come out of the womb,” said Rhonda Roberts, marketing and promotions director for the United Spirit Association, which offers summer training camps and competitions.
Roberts said that while explicit and inappropriate moves have now become common in cheerleading routines, they are frowned upon by judges at competitions.
She welcomes the move by Edwards, though she thinks the ban will be hard to enforce.
“Anything that promotes family-oriented behaviour is a good thing,” she said. “I think the parents will probably appreciate it.” — AFP