Protesters against an all-ages drag brunch in Roanoke, Texas, pushed the town into the middle of a larger controversy over the issue.
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All-ages drag shows have become the front line in America’s culture wars.
Drag performances – classically, a show in which men dress in women’s clothing and perform under a female persona – are about as old as performance itself. History is filled with examples of men performing as women, from Shakespeare to Billy Wilder movies from the golden era of Hollywood.
Drag performance for adults was often something akin to burlesque. But in the era of reality TV, drag also went mainstream. Performer RuPaul’s 1992 radio hit about supermodels had kids across America singing the earworm “You better work.” His hit show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” burst onto television in 2009.
By this decade, experts were estimating that pride events were reaching record numbers in the country’s smallest towns. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was headed toward its 15th season on the air.
“Drag brunches,” where performers mingle with a mimosa-vibed crowd, could be found in most of America’s big cities.
Drag performers and experts say drag is about freedom of expression, about joy, about feeling glamorous and beautiful and outrageous.
But they will also tell you it can be about something more than entertainment.
For some people, drag is a proxy for LGBTQ pride, and a form of acceptance. To some, a drag show, particularly, is a vibrant demonstration for people who feel different, one that tells them: It’s OK for you to be different, too.
But somewhere in the midst of all that pop-culture acceptance, something got polarized in America. And while it wasn’t exactly all about drag performance, it was, people said, all about children.
To some people, it seemed more children than ever were questioning their gender, their own identity. And as the nation grappled with difficult questions about transgender rights, medical care for children questioning their gender and their parents’ right to help them, all-ages drag shows became a proxy battleground for these complex debates.
Because drag shows have traditionally featured risqué content, crude language and even nudity or partial nudity, many Americans questioned why all-ages drag shows even exist. Fed by conservative media, conspiracy theories erupted about these events: They aimed to expose children to sexual activity, opponents claimed. Or to make them transgender. Or lure them into the hands of sexually abusive drag queens.
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#texas #dragbrunch
Lol
I think they are friendly
No reason any child should be exposed to that
What are you afraid of little snowflake?
Agreed! Keep right-wingers away from the kids.
Yes, there is. Children need to be taught inclusion of all people. Maybe that will stop people from killing the marginalized communities.
If the opposite people were armed, then it would be a big issue and a problem.
It’s a big problem that the LGBTQ+ community has to be defended just to have a lunch.
They show up armed all the time. Are you new here?
The toxic T
So next time, the protesters can show up with their guns and the two can commence a civil war.
They already do show up with guns
Real men come from men! Not boy/girl/whatever! ITS MORALLY WRONG
Your morals are yours. You don’t get to set morals for everyone else.
Who put you on a pedestal & made you a princess. NOBODY
💄🐖💄🐽💄🐷💄🐷💄🐖💄🐽💄🐷💄🐖💄🐽💄🦨💄💩💄💩💄🦨💄🐷💄🦍💄🦍💄🦍💄🦍💄🦍💄🦍💄🦍💄🦧💄🦍💄🐷💄🐷💄🐷💄🐷💄💄🐖💄🐽💄🦨💄🦨💄🦨💄💩💩💩💄💄💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💩💄💄💄💩💄
Ignorance
I feel like this is a make belief fake problem on both sides
Then you haven’t been paying attention.
It certainly doesn’t seem welcoming when there are guns with people in black clothes threatening people.
They were there to stop a repeat of what happened at the club Q.
Would you like it better if they wore camo and chewed tobacco?
You mean like white supremacists?
This is going to go well.
I do want to know this story of drag bringing a child out of a dark place as an override to the argument of not normalizing this stuff for kids. That’s wild.
I’m glad they had allies!🏳️🌈
One of the many problems America has is people not minding their business.
has any one watched ” to catch a predator?” it’s NEVER a drag queen.
It’s middle-aged married men cruising the internet.
Glad I don’t care and always have better things to do.
I’m sorry that you don’t care about your fellow humans. It would make for a better world if everyone cared in a good way.
I’d rather go to an all ages drag brunch than a strip club. Actually, you couldn’t drag me into a strip club.
If is not written in the Bible…
Then it’s just not written there. There are many more religions and spiritual beliefs than Christianity.
Found the pedo supporter ^
I’m with the guy in red
They aren’t hurting anyone and what LGBTQ likes in the bedroom is NONE OF ANYONE’S BUSINESS
Yes they are trying to normalize pedos 🤮
Please order a Rittenhouse🥃, a chaser followed by 3 shots🎉
The extent of the depravity and immorality we are witnessing can only be described as supernatural. Jesus came as a lamb the first time…He’s coming with a sword the second time!