March Sato Snap

        The Attack On Drag       

March Sato Snap

Isabel Pravda 

Drag, the art of dressing and acting exaggerated, typically as another gender, can be traced back to the first performances of Shakespeare, when female roles were done by men. Drag performance art includes pageants, comedy, singing, dancing, lip-syncing, fashion designing, acting, and so much more. As famous drag queen Ben De LA Creme (DeLa) states, “Drag is an intersection of an art practice and an identity”. However, people that express themselves through drag are now under attack. Since 2023, over 30 bills have been proposed in 17 states that have targeted the art of drag. Tennessee passed a bill last week that banned “male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest or similar entertainers” to perform in public or in the presence of children. Not following that law leads to a possible misdemeanor or felony charge. Most recently, on March 28, Texas passed two senate bills, (now on their way to the US senate). These bills would stop public funds to local libraries that allow drag performers to read books to minors. These bills are an attack on queer people, drag artists, and self-expression. Because drag has become more mainstream now, it is being attacked by many. However, many of these people fail to realize that just like any other performance art, not all of it is inappropriate. Like musicians and comedians, some drag shows are for all ages, and some are for a more mature audience, and minors are usually not allowed to attend these venues. It is also important to note that drag performers are not just gay men transforming into queens, but they can be gay, straight, cisgender, or transgender, as the art form has no limits.