All articles tagged with #drag show
A sold-out Christmas drag show in Pensacola, Florida, is defying efforts by state officials to cancel it amid a backdrop of anti-LGBTQ+ laws and backlash. Despite legal and social challenges, the drag community continues to perform and organize, emphasizing the importance of drag as a form of community and expression, and resisting efforts to silence or ban their performances.
A federal appeals court in Texas ruled in favor of a student LGBTQ+ group, Spectrum WT, allowing them to host drag shows on campus after the university's ban was found likely to violate First Amendment rights. The court emphasized that drag performances are protected expressive conduct, overturning a previous district court decision. The case highlights ongoing cultural and legal debates over LGBTQ+ rights and free speech in educational settings.
Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk's transgender daughter, made her drag debut in Los Angeles to support immigrant rights and raise funds for legal defense, receiving a warm reception from the crowd.
Maren Morris defended her decision to take her four-year-old son to a drag show, emphasizing that it was a family-friendly, all-ages charity event to protest a drag ban in Tennessee. She responded to criticism on Instagram, highlighting the historical context of drag as performance art. Morris also discussed motherhood during the pandemic, her upcoming album, and her divorce from Ryan Hurd on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Maren Morris defended taking her toddler to a family-friendly drag show, emphasizing the historical presence of similar attire in Catholicism and theater. She introduced her son to drag performers at an LGBTQ+ benefit concert, challenging Tennessee's overturned anti-drag legislation. Morris advocates for normalizing drag as an art form and dismisses concerns about exposing children to it.
The Supreme Court declined to intervene in a dispute over a drag show at a public university in Texas, rejecting a request from an L.G.B.T.Q. student group to allow the performance on campus. The group argued that the university president's refusal violated the First Amendment. The president had cited religious reasons for canceling the show, calling drag shows "derisive, divisive, and demoralizing misogyny." This decision comes amid increasing efforts in some Republican-led states to restrict drag show performances.
Aimenn D. Penny has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to burn down an Ohio church that was hosting drag show events, using Molotov cocktails in the attempt. He pleaded guilty to violating the Church Arson Prevention Act and using fire and explosives to commit a felony. The church forgave him, and its minister stated that the congregation became stronger as a result of the incident.
A teacher at a private Christian school in Texas was fired for attending a drag show and posting about it on social media. The school claimed she breached a condition of employment to "act in a godly and moral fashion." The teacher, who had been at the school for 19 years, said she didn't realize attending the show was prohibited. She and a co-worker were both terminated, leaving them feeling treated like criminals. The school officials did not comment, but a local drag venue offered to host a show to raise money for the fired teachers.
A teacher in Texas claims she was fired from a Christian school after attending a drag show at Hamburger Mary's. The school cited her attendance as not being "godly" and in violation of their moral standards. The teacher expressed shock and disappointment at the treatment she and another fired teacher received, stating they were treated like criminals. This incident follows a trend of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the US, with drag shows and transgender individuals being targeted.
Two teachers in Texas were fired from First Baptist Academy after attending a drag show in Houston. Kristi Maris, who had been teaching at the school for 19 years, and her coworker were let go after posting photos and videos of their visit to the venue. The school cited a clause in their operating policies manual that requires employees to act in a "godly and moral fashion" at work, on social media, and in the community. Maris expressed shock and disappointment at the decision, stating that she had always taught her students to love and accept everyone. She is currently taking a break from teaching but would attend a drag show again.
The "Drag Out Your Pride" show was held in Redding, California, outside the NorCal Outreach Project, featuring local drag performers and celebrating LGBTQ+ pride. The event aimed to raise awareness and funds for the NorCal Outreach Project, which provides support and resources to the LGBTQ+ community in the area.
Grand Haven, Michigan held its first-ever Pride festival, sponsored by St. John’s Episcopal Church, which drew thousands of people from across the state to celebrate the LGBTQI+ community. The festival featured a drag show, music, vendor fair, and kids activity corner. Despite pushback from some community members, the festival was approved unanimously by the city council in mid-April. The event was fenced off for alcohol consumption and local food vendors.
The Pentagon has canceled a drag show scheduled to take place on the first day of Pride Month at Nevada's Nellis Air Force Base, citing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent comments. The decision was made despite the event being approved by base commanders and deemed in line with DOD policy. The new directive applies only to drag shows held on military bases and does not impact other LGBTQ+ events scheduled to take place during Pride Month. LGBTQ advocacy group, the Human Rights Campaign, criticized the decision as "sid[ing] with the politics of fear and discrimination peddled by extreme members of Congress."
Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz celebrated the cancellation of a drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Gen. Mark Milley intervened to stop the event, citing that it was not Pentagon policy to fund drag shows. Gaetz had previously grilled the top military officials about drag shows on bases at a House Armed Services Committee hearing in March. The cancellation of the event was hailed as a "huge victory" by Gaetz, who believes that drag shows should not be taking place on military installations with taxpayer dollars.
The Pentagon has cancelled a drag show at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, which had already been approved, at the start of Pride Month. Despite the previous two events being held at the base, this one was not allowed to move forward after the Pentagon intervened, forcing the base to cancel the event or move it to a different location. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has drawn a line at allowing drag events or shows to be hosted at military bases, making clear that DoD funds cannot be appropriated for such events.