RuPaul’s Drag Race Stars Stand Against Anti-Trans and Anti-Drag Legislation
The stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race are united in a call for action in response to recent anti-trans and anti-drag legislation.
As of this February, over 300 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislative courts this year. Many of them target drag performances and gender-affirming care. In Tennessee and Montana, minors are banned from drag performances. Also in Tennessee, minors are not allowed to receive transition-related medical care.
None of this is particularly surprising given that the GOP has devoted itself to convincing people that drag performers are all dangerous predators, thus riling up their voters and causing legislators to pass restrictions and bans upon drag shows. On top of this, acts of anti-LGBTQ violence is still on the rise in the country, forcing high-profile drag queens to take extra security precautions.
To boost morale, members of RuPaul’s Drag Race shared some powerful messages during the show’s 200th episode celebration.
“It’s wild to see what’s going on as all these anti-trans bills (are) being disguised as anti-drag bills,” says Sasha Colby, a legend in the drag community who is competing on the show’s 15th Season. “You know what we’re not gonna do? We’re not gonna let them take us down. We’re going to keep doing what we need to do. Because you know what? Drag is for us, and drag is art.”
“That’s why this tradition has gone back for hundreds of years, and it’s brought so much positivity,” Sasha continues. “I’m on here to just continue to spread that positivity because we need more of that.”
Kylie Sonique Love, the winning queen from Season 2 and All Stars 6, puts it like this: “This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to do this shit, and it won’t be the last. So we’re going to keep doing what we do and inspire and encourage everybody and do it with a smile on your face.”
Heidi N Closet, Season 12 queen, shares some of the trials and tribulations of fighting against anti-queer, anti-drag bills. “It has truly brought out a side in the world that I have not seen in many years,” she says. “Being a gay, Black man from the south, I’ve seen such bigoted behavior and such disrespect and racism and every time those things come to light it tears us apart.”
Heidi N Closet concludes with one hopeful call to action, saying, “We’ve really got to stop this attack.”
Photo courtesy of social media
