In The USA, Republicans Continue War Against Drag Queens And Trans People
The last handful of years has seen a sharp increase in legislation aimed against drag queens, transgender people and the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole. A connection between drag shows and so-called grooming has been alleged by the Republican Party.
Arizona Senate Bill 1698 aims to redefine drag performances as adult-oriented performance and attach punitive repercussions for offenders, while Tennessee has become the first US state to officially ban drag performances in public spaces, reports TIME.
Considering 14 other states have introduced bills against drag shows, alongside comments taken from right-wing pundits calling for the eradication of transgender people, the GOP are affirming their criticism of the LGBTQIA+ community, which is drawing sharp controversy.
DRAG SHOWS ARE THE HOT TOPIC
Senator Justine Wadsack introduced and campaigned for the passing of Senate Bill 1698, which seeks to reclassify drag shows as adult-oriented businesses, which has historically been reserved for strip clubs and porn shops, reports Arizona Mirror.
With its passing, drag performers and drag shows are now deemed adult-oriented performances and exposure to such is mentioned in the legislation besides activities such as “oral sexual contact or sexual intercourse” and bestiality.
Governor Bill Lee signed off on a bill in Tennessee, which bans adult cabaret performances in public places where minors could watch, reports TIME. This makes Tennessee the first US state to officially make a ban on drag shows a law. Comments made on Governor Lee’s behalf say, “the bill specifically protects children from obscene, sexualized entertainment…”
Opposition to the bills being spruiked in state senates across the US fear that drag queens are being railroaded in an attempt on the GOP’s behalf to attack the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals, specifically transgender and gender nonconforming people.
Citing Michael Knowles, the right-wing commentator spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference where he says, ”transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely”. Though these comments received much ire from the public when videos of Knowles’ speech went viral, the applause at the Conservative Political Action Conference shows there are many in the Republican party who agree with Knowles’ sentiments.
Besides Arizona and Tennessee, the states with anti-drag bills includes Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and West Virginia, reports TIME.
