Drag performances under fire.
Danger, menaces, mobbing, and sometimes even physical attacks: In the United States, drag artists have to put up with a lot of danger. To fight back, a group of them has formed an organization. "Drag is about joy, but it's under attack. Our very existence, our self-expression, and our art - everything is being threatened. And we've had enough," says a statement from Qommittee. This group was created ahead of Pride Month in June to support and uplift LGBTQ+ individuals, aka sexual minorities, which includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender people, queer, and non-binary people. The '+' is a placeholder for other identities and genders.
These performers know what they're up against. Qommittee's current lineup consists of roughly ten drag artists from across America who, according to the members themselves, have faced threats, harassment, or experienced violence because of their performances. A performer saw a bomb explode outside the venue where she was performing in Ohio.
Drag queens have also made headlines in other instances of violence. One performed in the Club Q in Colorado Springs when a mass shooting left five people dead. The police revealed the incident was a hate crime. Another drag queen was active at Pulse nightclub, where a terrorist killed 49 people eight years ago.
Qommittee hopes to provide resources to drag performers and communities who receive little to no help locally-like therapy centers and legal assistance. For now, their main focus is on establishing a dialogue between themselves and local law enforcement agencies, according to the organizers.
Qommittee envisions itself as a central hub for performers all across the country, says its president B. Williams, a drag king from Washington D.C. known as "Blaq Dinamyte," to provide resources, negotiate with clubs, and act as a cushion against all those protests against drag shows.
For years, conservative activists and lawmakers have accused drag performers of using children for sexual purposes. This is allegedly happening at drag story hours, where artists read children's books, and drag brunches, where guests are warned about potentially offensive content for minors. There is no evidence that drag performances harm kids.
A drag artist was awarded a million dollars in compensation by a jury in Idaho just a few days ago. He sued an ultra-conservative blogger who publicly claimed he'd exposed himself in front of a crowd of kids.
The opinion that drag is harmful is yet another piece of rhetoric against sexual minorities. Enemies turn up at drag events brandishing weapons. And several U.S. states have restricted drag shows in the past few years. Yet, courts have suspended the enactment of these laws in some of the states.
In June, Pride Month, it's crucial to remember that drag is more than just art; it promotes entrepreneurship and job growth within the industry. Fans need to take action: "It's time for us to truly unite," says Scott Simpson, who helped organize Qommittee's members. Lastly, drag is all about the revolution: "We want to keep the revolution going."
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The international community has expressed concern over the increasing violence against LGBTIQ+ drag artists in the USA. Despite the threats and hate crimes, Qommittee, an organization supporting LGBTIQ+ individuals, has continued to advocate for their rights. In a recent instance, a drag performer in Colorado Springs was a victim of a mass shooting at Club Q, which was classified as a hate crime by authorities.
