Multiple former contestants of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” have launched the Drag PAC, a political action committee aimed at protecting LGBTQIA+ rights.
The drag performers claimed in a video released Wednesday elected officials have attacked the LGBTQIA+ community with what they feel is “anti-drag” legislation.
“I think everyone is a little disheartened with a lot of our elected leadership, and frankly, our community is being assaulted, and it’s escalating to violence,” Jinkx Monsoon, whose legal name is Hera Hoffer, said.
Willam Belli, who appeared on the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” added that lawmakers have introduced anti-drag and anti-trans legislation without knowing anything about drag queens. Hoffer and Belli were joined by several other show alumni, including Monét X Change and Miss Peppermint, in announcing the organization.
We’re in the middle of something historic,” Monet X Change, whose legal name is Kevin Bertin, said. “This is the most important election cycle for queer people’s rights and freedoms in our lifetime.”
Several elected officials have tried to advance restrictions on drag performances in recent months. In April, the Missouri State House passed a bill that critics feared would limit drag queens’ public shows. A month before, the Kentucky Senate passed legislation limiting where such shows could take place.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre criticized related efforts in a podcast episode that aired Tuesday.
It is sad. We were just talking about banning and what we see happening in conservative states – going after drag queen shows – where it is –,” Jean-Pierre said before Jennifer Welch, one of the hosts, interjected.
Ridiculous,” Welch said.
Yeah,” Jean-Pierre replied.
The press secretary argued people just shouldn’t go to the shows if they don’t like them.
“Their whole thing is entertaining you, to make you feel good and to have a good time,” she said.
The Biden administration has hosted drag queens in the past during Pride events. In 2022, Shangela, whose legal name is Darius Pierce, spoke at a Pride event at Vice President Kamala Harris’s home.
“This is a celebration of who we are as LGBTQIA+ people and allies,” Pierce said at the time. “Drag queens belong everywhere, especially in the residence of the vice president.”