In recent months I’ve received a bunch of questions and requests for me to post something about drag shows. Once limited to bars and late night, a whole bunch of new “drag expressions” have been in the news. From drag brunches where families are invited, to drag queens doing book readings at local libraries, what was once primarily an adult entertainment experience has branched out in ways that are troubling to some people. As a result, new laws have been passed, businesses have been boycotted and lost their building leases, and yet another political “hot potato” has been added to the growing list of things about which people are deeply divided.
There are two questions that we as Christians ought to be asking about this issue: what are the facts (and not the hype) and how should we as Christians respond? Over the next couple of blog posts I’m going to attempt to address these issues. There is a lot to consider!
First of all, some facts. While it is true that many drag performers are gay men, many are also heterosexual men. Very few are trans. In other words, if you see someone performing in drag you should not assume they are part of the LGBTQ community. Further, drag shows historically have been more about entertainment than gender or sexuality expression. Drag shows typically “exaggerate female gender roles for entertainment purposes.” Through dramatic makeup and costumes, singing, dancing, and humor, drag performers seek to make people laugh and help them have a good time.
That said, there is no doubt that drag allows the performers to explore and experiment with gender roles and expression. Many drag performers use different pronouns and a different name when “in character.” For some it gives them a chance to “put on a mask and be whoever I want to be for a few hours,” offering escape from the problems and challenges of daily life.
For many years drag shows have had an accepted niche in the entertainment industry in America. Many people have attended a drag show purely for the entertainment they provide. Some expressions of drag have shown up in more “mainstream” entertainment. For example, Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis found themselves in drag for most of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, which received six Oscar nominations! But in recent years drag culture has branched out, including “family friendly drag brunches” and drag performers doing book readings at libraries and schools. Why is this happening, and what is the goal of those promoting this events?
There are those that believe these events are designed to “groom children to be gay or trans.” Let’s be clear: statements that make this claim are based in fear and not in logic or fact. The vast majority of gay and trans people believe they are gay or trans because they were born that way. If that is indeed the case, why would they think exposing a child to a drag performance would somehow change their gender or sexual orientation? Also, virtually every gay or trans person I know will tell you their life has been much more difficult because of their gender or sexual identity. So why would they try to enlist children in a life that has been a struggle? Finally, what about the heterosexual and cisgender drag performers? What motivation would they have for trying to groom kids to be gay or trans?
It seems these days to be fair political game to demonize people who are different or who disagree with us, and accusing drag performers who read a book to kids at the library of grooming children for inclusion into the LGBTQ community is nothing more than that. Martin Luther wrote, “We should fear and love God so that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, think and speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.” (Explanation to the 8th Commandment, Small Catechism) Calling drag performers “groomers” is far from “putting the best construction” on their behavior.
So why do drag queens read books to kids? Or perform family brunches? Why not ask them and find out?
One drag performer put it this way. “[Drag performers] are incredibly talented. They are trying to live their lives, and in the process, brighten the lives of those around them. That’s the message parents should be communicating to their kids, at any age. It’s all about acceptance and being loved for who you are.” Another said, “Drag is an opportunity for anyone – including and especially children – to reconsider the masks we are all forced to wear daily. Children are inundated with implicit imagery from media about what is ‘boy’ and what is ‘girl.’ And I believe that almost all kids are really less concerned about playing with a toy that’s supposedly aligned to their gender, and more concerned with playing with toys that speak to them.” So the goal is to foster tolerance and break down social stereotypes regarding gender and gender expression.
Are there some drag performers and drag show promoters that are simply trying to advance a certain liberal agenda? Of course. But there are also people that oppose drag shows simply to garner conservative votes or out of ignorance about the whole subject.
WIth all that in mind, what does the Bible say? How should a Christian respond? Is it OK to attend a drag show? What do you do if your local library is hosting a drag event? What do you say to your friend, family member, or coworker that performs in drag? Should a politician’s views on the subject influence your vote? I’ll tackle these issues in my next post.
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