The Return of Drag Panic
The reemergence of attacks against drag storytimes and the growth of anti-trans sentiment.
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World Pride Human Rights Conference
There is something incredibly surreal about attending the World Pride Human Rights Conference in DC, sitting in a panel watching amazing transgender advocates talk about the work they do and the power in visibility, with a panel on drag scheduled for later in the day, and receiving multiple calls from elected officials asking for help defending a drag storytime event at the Edgewater branch of the Chicago Public Library system from hate groups looking to target the families attending.
We left the session we were in, took the calls, scheduled a counter protest, created graphics, and activated our network of supporting organizations, and made it back in time for the drag panel.
History of Drag Panic
From Wikipedia:
Drag panic (also called drag queen panic or anti-drag hysteria) is a moral panic that stems from the belief that exposure to drag, especially for minors, can be harmful, due to its perceived sexual nature.[1][2][3] Drag panic has motivated protests and attacks against the LGBTQ+ community by extremist groups,[2] and often includes the belief that all-ages drag performances are attempts by the LGBTQ+ community to sexualize or recruit children.[4][5][6]
Starting in 2019, due to the increased visibility of drag performers, attacks continued for several years before petering out in the last few years. Of course, they did continue but less often and with less visibility.
Unfortunately, with the sharp increase in anti-trans sentiment and misinformation this year, attacks on drag storytimes have increased again. Somewhat like a low hanging fruit, these events are publicly advertised, hosted at libraries or bookstores, and aimed at families with children, making them easy to target by hate groups hiding behind protecting children to attack trans people and drag.
Prominent Drag Queens React to Attacks
By definition, drag is activism.
In a recent conversation, Petter Wallenberg, Courtney Act, Bob the Drag Queen, Mrs Kasha Davis, and Peppermint discussed drag performers as visible activism and the recent uptick in attacks on drag storytimes:
When asked about drag and activism, Bob the Drag Queen said, “Drag functions as a reflection of the larger world discourse and shines a light on things.”
Peppermint called drag “The cockroach of art forms,” referencing the perseverance of drag throughout history.
When discussing the targeting of drag storytime events, Bob the Drag Queen said, “Saying that children shouldn’t be exposed to drag because SOME of it is sexual is like saying kids shouldn’t listen to music because the song Walk exists.” Bob also discussed how they do not do drag for kids because that’s not her brand; she’s not a performer for children. She also said that she’s tired of seeing the attacks on drag storytime where they use pictures or video from a performance aimed at adults, “like, don’t take your kids to a strip club!” Or like dirty comedians who are in Disney movies before going back to doing dirty comedy again.
Peppermint pointed out that, like music, dance shouldn’t be banned from children because strippers exist, however Hooters exists and some people take their kids there often.
On the other hand, Mrs Kasha Davis said that, for her, doing drag storytime came out of her sobriety journey, calling herself “Mrs Doubtfire meets PeeWee’s Playhouse…” She said that “hate of drag shows is rooted in homophobia, transphobia, and racism.”
Courtney Act called the anti-trans rhetoric a tactic meant to “create divide, panic, and marginalization of a group” and that the top is taking advantage of the middle by using that fear.
Peppermint expanded on that, saying “Fascism depends on a binary. Male or female, black or white, Christian or not. Everyone must fit in a box and anyone outside the box is punished. Drag becomes an entry to attack the trans community.”
The Edgewater Drag Storytime Response
For the Protect Drag Storytime action coordinated by Trans Up Front at Edgewater Library, over 250 people showed up to party loudly in the face of hate. Several anti-trans and anti-drag hate group members were present, armed with bullhorns and cellphones, screaming hate and trying to record negative responses from supporters at the event.
Instead of negativity, the crowd partied! A speaker played popular pride songs, people sang and danced, bubbles were blown, and the atmosphere was positive. Activists blocked families arriving and exiting from the hate being yelled at them using flags, signs, and by being louder than the hate. The party continued from 10am until 12:30pm, making sure that all families were able to exit.
As they were leaving, media including Fox News, tried to get video footage of the families. In an effort to protect the identities of the children and caregivers attending, activisits blocked the camera’s view using flags, shepherding families out of the door and down the sidewalk.
One anti-drag protester was arrested during an altercation in which he pushed another person before resisting arrest (source).
Some Drag Queen’s Final Messages
Courtney Act said, “We’re not going anywhere” and instructed everyone to focus on hope.
Mrs Kasha Davis said, “There is always time for hope” and that allies need to find ways to show up; “Paint your nails, dads!”
Peppermint said, “Visibility is an act of resistance” and that they’re playing with our healthcare while making us talk about drag and trans people.
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