When I think of modern day threats to children’s health and safety, there are many things that come to mind. This ranges from things such as climate change, to school shootings, lack of access to nutritious foods, and lack of reliable childcare services, just to name a few. One thing that does not come to mind for me, though, is drag shows; yet, this seems to be a huge issue in the minds of GOP lawmakers. Just so far in the 2023 legislative session, there have been 26 bills introduced in 14 states that target drag shows.
These bills are an attack on self-expression and personal freedom, but unfortunately there are some that support the harmful beliefs these bills support.
Based on The Washington Post article, it seems that several of these bills were influenced by an organization called Family Policy Alliance, a conservative Christian organization that acts as a lobbyist group. A group that claims on their website that they, “oppose efforts that would bring further harm […] and attempts to “normalize” this behavior in society—especially amongst impressionable children.” The behavior they hint at is of course just anything that doesn’t explicitly align with heteronormative gender roles. And note how, once again, they are claiming that this is something children need protection from.
Republican lawmakers claim that they are not trying to encroach on anyone’s first amendment rights by introducing these bills, and that their sole desire is only to keep children safe. Yet, here they are, letting a religious group influence legislation, very much so upholding the promise of separation of church and state, right? I wonder how many of these same lawmakers have fallen silent after school shootings when parents around the country are begging for gun regulations to be implemented, so their children can feel safe at school.
The thing about this form of legislation is that these lawmakers are continuing to do what others have done for decades now, they’re just hiding it behind different words. It is clear to me, and many others, that the people behind these bills see those who are in the LGBTQ+ community, and those who specifically participate in drag shows, as only sexual beings, as people who want to sexually prey on their children, and god forbid, give their child the idea that maybe there isn’t only one, heteronormative, way to express yourself. The labeling of those in the LGBTQ+ community as groomers and pedophiles is not new, drag shows are just the current angle lawmakers are trying, another attempt to turn their prejudiced thoughts into law.
“Drag is a creative act—a powerful and personal form of self-expression. Many performers also credit it with giving them a voice. Others use it to explore sexual and gender identity and expression.”
-Kiana Shelton
Not only do bills like this stir up hateful rhetoric, but the uproar of hate speech is extremely damaging to those a part of the community. Rhetoric like this not only fuels harmful stereotypes, but encourages violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community. Many would agree that preying on children is one of the most heinous and vile things someone can do, and yet, being falsely labeled as this type of monster is a recurring event for anyone who is a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Something that would take a heavy toll on the mental wellbeing of anyone, let alone someone being targeted for how they identify or the type of person they’re attracted to.
It has been a common theme from those with anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs to claim that the discussion of sexuality and gender identity is a way that members of the community try to prey on children. In reality, grooming is actually, “‘manipulative behaviors” used by sexual abusers “to gain access to a potential victim, coerce them to agree to the abuse, and reduce the risk of being caught.’” Encouraging children to be themselves, to explore without the limitations of heteronormativity, and giving them the tools to be able to understand those that identify differently from them, is clearly not grooming.
In reality, “drag is a creative act—a powerful and personal form of self-expression. Many performers also credit it with giving them a voice. Others use it to explore sexual and gender identity and expression.” The freedom of self-expression is not something that children need to be sheltered from. Expressing yourself through clothes, makeup, etc., is not a dangerous act, but one that invites creativity and self discovery, two very important aspects of being human.
These bills and the people behind them do not actually care about the safety of children, they only care to stop others from doing things that they personally find “weird” or “not normal.” These bills are an attack on self-expression and personal freedom, but unfortunately there are some that support the harmful beliefs these bills support. And as someone who says they work to uphold and push feminist ideals of equality and creating a safe world for everyone, it is important that myself, and you as well, stay updated on these issues. Being up to date on these issues allows us to fight against those who work to prevent equality and safety.
To update, just since this past Wednesday, there has been forward progression in these awful bills. I just saw this morning that a bill like this has been passed by House Republicans in Tennessee and is awaiting on approval from their Senate so it can be signed into law by their governor.