Saile Aranda
Assistant Editor
Federal Judge Lee H. Rosenthal temporarily blocked Texas A&M University System Board of Regents’ recent drag show ban, allowing Draggieland — an annual drag queen competition — to hold their “Slaying of the Seven Seas” drag show as originally scheduled.
On Feb. 28, the Board of Regents passed a resolution banning drag shows across the 11 A&M System campuses.
The resolution said the Board finds that drag shows “create a hostile environment for women,” and “often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for members of the communities,” which violates federal anti-discrimination laws.
On March 5, the Queer Empowerment Council at Texas A&M University filed a lawsuit against the Board of Regents, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. The QEC is the host of Draggieland.
On March 24, Rosenthal issued a temporary injunction — blocking the ban until there is a final decision. The ruling said drag shows “warrant[ed] some level of First Amendment protection.”
Jose Rodriguez, social event coordinator and secretary for the Coalition at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, said he was shocked when he first heard about the ban.
“I wasn’t expecting such a diverse university system to do such a thing,” said Rodriguez, who is a psychology sophomore on campus.
Rodriguez spoke about what drag shows are and his experience attending shows hosted by the Coalition at A&M-San Antonio. He said the first drag show he attended on campus made him feel more comfortable with the university.
“There’s nothing really crazy about these drag shows that everybody predicts. There’s dancing, fun, there’s laughter and these positive energies,” said Rodriguez. “I feel like you should always see a drag show because at that moment reality gets set aside and you’re in your own little world watching the show, a performer.”
On March 18, the University of Texas System prohibited the hosting and sponsoring of drag shows across 14 of its institutions, similar to the A&M System.
Mariah Adeeko, director of communications for the Queer and Trans Black Indigenous People of Color Agency at the University of Texas at Austin spoke with the Mesquite about their reaction to the UT System drag show ban.
“I think any higher-education institution that is deeply connected with the state, we can expect them to be doing the state’s bidding, which is often homophobic, transphobic, racist,” said Adeeko.
Although Adeeko remains optimistic after the recent UT System news, they have concerns for possible, stronger attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.
“That just means that we have to prepare in advance for when they do something worse,” said Adeeko. “People need to realize there are simply more important things to be worrying about than banning drag on campus.”
Editor’s Note: Selene Torres contributed to this story.
