Yahoo News Drag Race Queens Slam Silent Allies Over Anti-Trans & Anti-Drag Bills
We need our allies in this fight.
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Trans people and drag artists have always been at the forefront of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights, and the same thing is happening once again in 2023. With hundreds of new pieces of transphobic and anti-drag legislation being introduced, voted on, and even passed by conservative politicians, high-profile stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race are fighting back and urging those who call themselves “allies” to take a firm stand in defense of the LGBTQ+ community.
Last week, Tennessee became the first state in the US to pass a bill with significant restrictions to drag shows. Unfortunately, it seems like this is only the beginning. Hundreds of similar bills are also being brought up in other states, and indirect restrictions on drag performances already seem to be happening in states like Florida.
Over the weekend, CPAC speaker Michael Knowles declared that “transgenderism must be eradicated,” a dangerously transphobic call-to-action that has ignited fury and fears within the LGBTQ+ community. Even though some queer people are already starting to fight back, many are also calling upon our allies to stand with us in this fight.
Scroll through to see how RuPaul’s Drag Race queens are reacting to the anti-trans and anti-drag bills being pushed by conservative politicians. For more information about these pieces of legislation and how to fight against them, you can visit this resource page from the ACLU.
Jinkx Monsoon
Jinkx Monsoon (they/she) on Instagram: "This is for everyone who’s made a dollar off a drag queen— anyone who’s used a drag queen as a prop in their music video, TV show, or movie. Yet again, queer people are the only people talking about queer issues, even though we’ve been the court jesters for a lot of “allies” lately— but I guess y’all are just fence riders when it comes to choosing between right and objectively evil. 🤷🏻♀️🙄 Don’t worry. We’ll remember this."
BenDeLaCreme
BenDeLaCreme ✨🎄 on Instagram: "Make no mistake. This is where these drag bills are headed. All the language in these brag bans is purposefully vague enough to include trans people. We are on our way to a pre stonewall society. Decades of work undone. I have been shocked by the number of people who identify as allies to our community but are not even AWARE this is happening. Please TALK about this to your friends and relatives. We can’t fight against what we don’t know is happening. #repost • @aurorasexton This is terrifying. This is happening right now, in America, in 2023. Where have we heard this kind of rhetoric before.. the vilification and extermination of a segment of society. It was never about bathrooms, or sports, or protecting children from drag queens. It’s about Transgenderism aka trans folks, gender non conforming folks, needing to be eradicated. Eradicated. This can only be taken as a clear call for violence and death against our community. The flurry of bills against medical care, drag shows and public access are just the beginning. But of course, it’s all to protect the children. Who’s going to protect us? #transrightsarehumanrights #transisbeautiful #transgender #transwoman #transman #humanrights #cpac #michaelknowles"
Bianca Del Rio
Bianca Del Rio on Instagram: "WE ARE CURRENTLY LIVING IN THE TWILIGHT ZONE! 😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫 This is INSANITY!!!! MICHAEL KNOWLES is the “speaker” who made this statement."
Jackie Cox
Jackie Cox on Instagram: "@fedex it’s time to SPEAK UP. #FedExSpeakUp"
Aquaria
\u201cAllies\u2026\u2026 \ud83c\udfa4\ud83d\udce3\ud83d\udde3\ufe0f \u2026\u2026 please. The floor is yours. The world is trying to crush my unbeatable community. They won\u2019t and could never, but its definitely past time to speak up. Please help us safely progress and thrive without fear.\u201d
— Aquaria \ud83e\udd0c\ud83c\udffc (@Aquaria \ud83e\udd0c\ud83c\udffc) 1678092537
“Allies…… 🎤📣🗣️ …… please. The floor is yours. The world is trying to crush my unbeatable community. They won’t and could never, but its definitely past time to speak up. Please help us safely progress and thrive without fear.”
Ginger Minj
\u201cBeing an \u201cally\u201d means more than coming to the show & tipping a few bucks (which is always appreciated!), it also means standing beside us in the fight for our survival. If you celebrate in our spaces, please help us to keep them safe! Get involved! Vote the bigots out!\u201d
— Ginger Minj (@Ginger Minj) 1678119731
“Being an “ally” means more than coming to the show & tipping a few bucks (which is always appreciated!), it also means standing beside us in the fight for our survival. If you celebrate in our spaces, please help us to keep them safe! Get involved! Vote the bigots out!”
Joey Jay
\u201cHello allies and guest judges or anyone who got a check for contributing to @RuPaulsDragRace. Would love for you to speak up for our queer community now plz \ud83d\udc95\u201d
— Joey Jay (IS GAY\ud83e\udd7a) (@Joey Jay (IS GAY\ud83e\udd7a)) 1678122237
“Hello allies and guest judges or anyone who got a check for contributing to @RuPaulsDragRace. Would love for you to speak up for our queer community now plz 💕”
Cheddar Gorgeous
\u201cAs parts of the US bring in a drag ban and far right commentators call for an "erraddication of transgenderism from public life" ...I wondered where all those flag waving allies went, are they busy, unaware or were they only there for the street party\u201d
— Cheddar Gorgeous (@Cheddar Gorgeous) 1678014600
“As parts of the US bring in a drag ban and far right commentators call for an "erraddication of transgenderism from public life" ...I wondered where all those flag waving allies went, are they busy, unaware or were they only there for the street party”
