On an average school day, harried students at the University of Texas at Austin rush across Speedway to get to class, stopping only to dodge a dangerously fast Lime scooter. On Monday, however, several students made a pitstop to get their makeup done by one of over a dozen drag performers, each in vibrant outfits and elaborate makeup of their own. The students then continued to class, a little more colorful and sparkly than before.
The performers showed up—some even calling out of their day jobs—for the student-run initiative called the Day of Drag, which encouraged students to show up to class in drag to protest the University of Texas System’s ban on drag performances. As university systems across the state have enacted similar bans and the Texas Legislature continues to attack LGBTQ+ rights, students are shouldering the weight of advocating for their rights.
On March 18, the UT System Board of Regents said its universities cannot sponsor or host drag shows in their facilities The decision also followed a similar ban from the Texas A&M System Board of Regents on February 28 banning drag show events on campus. The Texas A&M resolution cited President Donald Trump and Governor Greg Abbott’s executive orders that prohibit using funding for “promoting gender ideology.” The resolution also said drag performances could “create or contribute to a hostile environment for women.” On March 28, the University of North Texas system followed suit and paused drag performances on its campuses.
