Republicans love nothing more than to show off their power by stomping down on vulnerable and marginalized communities, especially if they think it’ll translate to more outrage (and more votes) around election season. Daily Kos has continued to cover the ways conservatives have rallied around an anti-queer platform in recent years, with everything from ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills to bathroom bills to anti-health care efforts. And as we continue to cover, the false hysteria over trans girls participating in girls' sports continues to be a big one.
Drag shows have also come under attack in an organized fashion. Daily Kos has covered instances of public libraries facing threats and harassment over hosting Drag Queen story hours (which include, as one might imagine, people in drag reading children’s books to children). At points, protesters have actually gathered at libraries to intimidate families. It’s horrifying.
Thanks to Republican State Rep. Chris Todd, folks attending Jackson TN Pride (held in Jackson, Tennessee) had to show ID to prove they were at least 18 in order to attend a drag show, as reported by NBC News. In addition to requiring IDs, the entire event was moved indoors. Because stirring outrage and fear around drag is somehow a priority when the nation continues to face the COVID-19 pandemic, gun violence, surges in white supremacy and literal fascism, among other things.
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“I continue to hear from Madison Countians APPALLED at the possibility of a drag queen show in Conger Park,” Todd wrote in a Facebook post on Sept. 17, adding that state laws stop “adult cabarets” from being within 1,000 feet of places of worship, residences, or public parks.
Mind you, Pride was held in the same location (Conger Park) in multiple years past without an issue. When asked why he wasn’t up in arms then, he said he “didn’t know” it was happening.
Even still, Jackson Mayor Scott Conger did have a meeting about the issue where Todd, as well as church officials, Jackson Pride Committee members, and others gathered to discuss. Todd insists he heard from constituents who also opposed the event being held at the park.
From here, event organizers agreed to hold the event at a nearby location indoors instead of at the park. Then Todd pushed for that to be shut down as well, arguing that it’s still within 1,000 feet of a First United Methodist Church. Because Republicans are incapable of any compromise that doesn’t involve them getting their way, of course.
Eventually, Pride organizers were able to keep the event going by adding the ID check for the drag show. Todd took to Facebook again after this, insisting the event organizers needed to admit they were “way out of line” from the beginning. Because, again, Republicans gloat and push even when they’ve already gotten their way.
Some drag shows are meant for adults, and that’s okay. The same can be said for many comedy, improv, and other live theater productions. And some drag is perfectly family-friendly and, specifically, kid-friendly; it just depends, and that’s fine. Organizers clearly wanted to have an inclusive event where queer youth and allies could feel safe and celebrated, and Republicans just needed to insist on isolating and excluding young people.
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