Drag needs to be seen by all
On March 2, one of the first major anti-drag bills was passed in Tennessee, the first state to do so. This bill restricts public drag shows, considered “adult cabaret performances,” to shield them from children. The law will go into effect on July 1.
One of the foremost questions I’ve had during this whole debate is why?
Yes, I can acknowledge that some drag shows are meant for adults only, and not for the eyes of children, but most times those shows happen late at night when children are asleep.
A drag storytime, or a drag artist performing in a parade, is something that should not be taken away. For many children, this is an introduction to the LGBTQ+ community, and when you take that away, the community starts to become a fairytale more than a reality.
The art of drag quite literally has saved my life, so to see it under fire right now, comes with a lot of emotions, and does not make any sense.
Drag artist Venus at Elmhurst University last year, Photo by Ryan Windle
During the COVID-19 lockdown, drag was the only light in my life. It kept me sane, it kept me happy, it kept me alive. Something so simple, people sharing their art, is now being attacked. It’s hard to be proud of liking drag now, because who knows the repercussions I may face if I even mention it?
Drag is not one of the things that pose the biggest threat to the safety of children at the moment. Why politicians are focusing on the erasure of the LGBTQ+ community for children, and not gun safety, is something that needs to be discussed more.
When I look at this situation, it is not to protect children, it is so politicians can have an excuse to spread their homophobic agenda.
The reason why drag is getting attacked right now is because it is the most common introduction that people have to the LGBTQ+ community. For most “allies,” they started watching “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and then got introduced to drag culture, and then gay culture.
In the media, most times when you see something being represented for the LGBTQ+ community, it is drag. Drag artists are the poster child of the LGBTQ+ community for straight people.
I believe this is the tactic politicians are using to get people to turn against the LGBTQ+ community. If they make it seem like drag is bad, people will start to question whether it is safe for them to enjoy it, and therefore the community loses support.
None of this makes any sense. It is confusing as to why people cannot just live their lives in peace, and spread joy to others through art.
But we all know that the LGBTQ+ community is not just going to back down. They are fighters and are not going to be erased as easily.
If you are a lover of drag, or respect gay culture in any capacity, now is the time to show your true allyship. If you back down and do not show support for the community now that it’s under fire, you cannot say that you are an ally to the community for leaving them during this time.
Get ready to fight, get ready to make waves, and get ready to be challenged. This is a scary time, but a time where everyone needs to come together and show the community and these politicians that they will not back us into a closet.
It’s a scary and stressful time to live in. Make sure to check up on yourself, your friends, or anyone on the street you see struggling. Taking away drag is just the start; it will get worse, but know that if we continue to fight, it will get better.