In their latest anti-LGBTQ push, conservative lawmakers from multiple U.S. states have recently introduced a series of bills targeting drag performances, particularly those with kids in attendance.
Legislators from at least seven states — Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas — have proposed anti-drag laws in recent months.
“This is really brand new,” said Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign. “Prior to this, there had been attacks on drag story hours at libraries by conservative entities and there had been a lot of critiques, but not legislative attacks.” There were at least 141 anti-LGBTQ protests, threats and violent actions against drag events and venues in the U.S. last year, a report from LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD found.
