Happy Wednesday Scribblers. I’ve been thinking a lot about Drag and this latest trend, and especially the vote in Tennessee, to ban this art form. I have so many feelings about this attack on Drag and I’m not sure what to do with them. Today I thought I would share my thoughts and see what you all think.
To start Drag has been around since Ancient Greece, maybe not in the form we know it today, but Drag came to be, because women in ancient western cultures were often not allowed to perform onstage or become actors, so men and boys were used instead to fill the female rolls. Also, men and boys were expected to dress as women for many religious ceremonies and rituals. Having men play the rolls for women was commonplace, however there are some who don’t feel this is where ‘true’ Drag came from. Still, if that is the case, then Drag may have come to be in the 1800s with forms of entertainment such as minstrel shows and Shakespeare’s plays, as Shakespeare often incorporated male actors as female impersonators. Either way, Drag has been around a long time.
Some seem to believe that Drag is new. But it’s not. Drag has been around and in pop culture since Vaudeville, even making appearances on television (here in the US) in the 1950s. Milton Berle and Bob Hope did several TV shows in Drag. Then you had Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis in Drag in the movie Some Like it Hot.
As we move forward to more current times, Bugs Bunny was in children’s cartoons (starting in 1939 and continuing today) in Drag. M.A.S.H. had Klinger in a dress in almost every episode for eleven years (not to mention the movie). In the 80s you had Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari dressed in Drag every week for two seasons in the sitcom Bosom Buddies. In the 80s and 90s we had movies like Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire. There was Too Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Who doesn’t know Dame Edna from Australia, or Agnes Brown from the U.K., or the late great Divine. We also have the talented actor Tyler Perry who brought to life Mable “Madea” Earlene Simmons, with how many movies and specials out there. By the way, Georgia can thank Mr. Perry and Madea for the movie industry they now have and reap the benefits off of, as Tyler Perry built his studio in Georgia (Tyler Perry Studios, 2006). And we cannot forget RuPaul, who has been on the scene in Drag since the 1980s. All these artists and entertainers (and so many more) continue to perform for the public. And not once have we heard this kind of outcry (at least when we are speaking of entertainment).
And here we are.
2023 and Tennessee has banned Drag Performances. To be clear, the ban is basically this; the bill that passed in Tennessee restricts “adult cabaret performances” in public or in the presence of children, and bans them from occurring within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, or places of worship.
Tennessee didn’t stop there either, but I don’t want to get into that now. Just know that other states are watching what happened in Tennessee and plan on pushing their own bills banning Drag through.
Why are we doing this?
The children… or that is their claim. These politicians want to protect kids from ‘big evil’ Drag queens who might… what? I don’t know. Maybe these people are hiding the fact they have fantasies about these drag artists. I’m sure Milton Berle and Bob Hope really get them hot and bothered. Or Madea. You never know. Anyway, none of this Drag outcry makes sense to me, since most of these persons pushing for these bills grew up watching Drag performances, of one form or another, their whole lives. Now Drag is the biggest problem in America… um no.
I don’t get it.
Politicians are focusing on the ‘Boogeyman in Drag’ because they believe they won’t get much flack and they can claim they are keeping their cities and states safer for ‘the children’, but are they? No.
This week Jon Stewart tore into GOP Senator Nathan Dahm (OK) on the subject of guns and tied the matter into Tennessee’s ban on Drag. You can watch the video here now I’m not a huge fan of Jon Stewart, but in this case, I was impressed with him and his remarks.
Now what?
I don’t know.
Like Eric and I talk about, is seems we are moving in the wrong direction as a country. We are attacking people and creating laws to hinder people’s rights. Sadly, it’s not just about Drag. It’s about so many other people’s rights and I’m not sure where and how this madness will stop. An interesting thought is if we are going backwards, then since Drag has been around since at the least the 1800s, then Drag will continue to be around and people will continue to enjoy the artform and the creative expression. Art finds a way and so does the queer community. Strap on your heels and glue down your wigs because this is going to be a bumpy ride… for us all.
Like I said at the start, I’ve been thinking a lot about Drag and everything that is happening these days and I don’t know where these thoughts are going or what is coming. Thank you for baring with me this week. I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject, or any subject, as there seems to be a lot happening. Until next time, have a great week.