On Monday, a Texas lawmaker said that he would introduce legislation banning minors from attending drag performances in Texas.
Bryan Slaton (Republican State Representative) said that a law is necessary to protect children against “perverted adults.” He cited a viral video showing children at a Dallas drag show on Saturday.
Slaton stated that “the events of the past weekend were horrifying” and showed a disturbing trend in perverse adults being obsessed with sexualizing young kids. “As a father to two young children, I wouldn’t take them to a drag show. I also know that speaker Dade Phelan would not allow my children to go to one.
He said, “Protecting your own children isn’t enough. Our responsibility as legislators extends to sexualization that’s happening across Texas.”
Slaton was talking about a drag event that took place at Mr. Misster. The “Drag the Kids to Pride Drag Show” was described as a “family-friendly spinoff” of the bar’s “Champagne Drag Brunch”.
The viral video shows children tipping cash to drag performers and watching them dance. The event attracted protestors.
Representatives of Mr. Misster didn’t respond to NBC News’ request.
Other Republican legislators, including Lauren Boebert from Colorado and Majorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) also addressed the issue. They argued that minors should not be allowed to attend drag shows.
Allie Beth Stuckey is a podcast host with over 357,000 Twitter followers. She suggested that parents, performers, and bar owners should be charged for sexual abuse of children.
Some Democratic lawmakers and LGBTQ activists criticized the ban.
“First, it was CRT. It was then CRT. Then, it was trans children playing sports. It’s …. drag now. On Twitter, Mallory McMorrow, Michigan State Senator, used the acronym Critical Race Theory. “None these things fix inflation, lower healthcare costs, or protect children from gun violence. This is the GOP’s fear tactic of choice. It’s embarrassing.”
Slaton’s announcement is made amid heated rhetoric about whether or not children should be taught about LGBTQ issues.
Conservative lawmakers, TV pundits, and other public figures have been accusing opponents of newly passed Florida education legislation, which critics have called the “Don’t Say Gay”, of trying to “groom” and “indoctrinate children.” Grooming has been mischaracterized as child sex abusers for many years.
The Human Rights Campaign reports that LGBTQ activists are fighting simultaneously against record-breaking numbers of anti-LGBTQ laws introduced in state legislatures this past year. This includes more than 320.
Texas legislators have been making headlines in recent months for their anti-LGBTQ and, particularly, anti-transgender policies.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott ordered the state’s child welfare agency to investigate allegations of abuse against parents who might be providing their children with gender-affirming medical care in February. Gregg Abbott directed the state’s child welfare office to investigate child abuse allegations against parents who may be providing trans children with gender-affirming care. The Texas Supreme Court overturned a March-placed statewide injunction. In a nod for trans families, however, the court said that such investigations are not under governor’s control.
