The trope of the creepy crossdresser is nothing new. From serial killers in movies to flashers in the park to weird neighbors on Disney channel shows- growing up it was everywhere, and now it’s back. And this time, drag is being dragged through the mud. 

The most recent wave of anti-drag sentiment has been driven by talk shows, protests, and most importantly an influx in anti-drag legislation. Alongside a greater trend of anti-trans bills, Tennessee recently passed one of its harshest anti-drag bills yet, criminalizing participation in “adult cabaret performances” in public spaces or in the presence of children. This bill lumps drag performers with exotic dancers and strippers, labeling these performances as shows with “prurient interest.” And beyond this, we’ve seen 39 similar proposed and passed bills in other states this year. Just like this Tennessee law, this new bill creates restrictions on drag performances in regard to their publicity and exposure to children, ultimately pushing the false narrative that trans people are not real and have ulterior motives.

The main way these bills are doing this is by perpetuating the false idea that doing drag is the same as being transgender. While being transgender is part of a person’s identity, drag is an art form. It’s the performance of gender expression, often in exaggerated, satirical, and political ways. Through overdramatic costumes, makeup, and songs, drag queens use sarcasm to mock the things that are crazy about the world. And because they often dress up in a different gender, drag is seen as the glamorized version of “transness,” leading to the two being equated. 

But why are so many people against the two? This is ultimately a result of the narrative that queer people are perverts. More specifically, the idea that transgender women are merely crossdressers who prey on children. This is nothing new; from the criminalization of ‘deviants’ in the 1930s to bar raids in the 60s and the AIDS crisis in the 80s, the stigmas of our past still linger in minds across generations – even as the LGBTQ+ community becomes more widely accepted. 

Drag Story Hour 

One example is how drag queens are made out to be predators in the controversy surrounding Drag Story Hour. Started in 2015, this program sends drag queens to libraries, schools, and bookstores to read books to children. Generally, these storytime hours involve books that promote self-acceptance, gender expression, and the deconstruction of gender stereotypes. In response, Drag Story Hour has received huge amounts of backlash including threatening protests and false accusations of drag queens flashing children. All of these events involve allegations of perverted behavior. These outlandish claims are a manifestation of the underlying idea that queer people are dangerous, especially around children. In reality, story hours don’t discuss sexual content. Performers dress up more modestly and use more appropriate language than they do for their usual shows because the program was not made for their usual audiences. At the end of the day, whether or not a child is exposed to drag is up to their parents – if parents don’t want their kids exposed to it they don’t need to bring them to story hour. 

Why is this so dangerous? 

Whether you like drag shows or not, these restrictive bills perpetuate harmful ideas against the trans community. Last year, there were 141 protests and attacks on drag events alone. When people see hate legalized, it legitimizes our biases towards certain groups, including those who don’t align with our societal expectations of gender. It makes people think they are justified to harass and assault others. In extreme cases, it even spurs murder and mass shootings like we saw at Club Q. As a result, transgender Americans are over four times more likely to be victims of violent crime. This wave of anti-drag sentiment makes it dangerous for trans people to merely exist in our world.  

Drag Activism

Thankfully, this hasn’t gone unnoticed. Earlier in April, thousands joined the “Drag Up! Fight Back!” rally held in San Francisco to speak out against these bills and the violence that follows. Other groups around the country have joined this advocacy as well with the creation of more story hours, marches, and performances. If you ask me, lawmakers have underestimated the power of drag. Drag queens are not new to this. They’ve been on the front lines since Stonewall, and these bills are something we’ve unfortunately seen many times before. The act of doing drag is simply a protest against traditional gender roles and stereotypes. For so many in the LGBTQ+ community, merely existing in public is a form of protest – it’s putting yourself in danger of rejection and violence for being yourself. 
In an article written by a drag queen who goes by the name of Lil Miss Hot Mess, she states that “through drag, we’re able to see those elements of society that are a hot mess and find the courage and creativity to change them.” Through camp, positivity, and humor, drag is unconventional. But it’s this unconventionality that's key to facilitating change.