US Republican Bills Target Drag Shows as Adult Entertainment

Over thirty bills have been introduced across the United States since early 2023 to ban drag shows, often classified as "adult cabaret performances." Republican proponents claim the measures protect children from lifestyles deemed inconsistent with American values, framing drag as "prurient" and equating it with pornography and strip clubs. Critics argue that drag challenges conventional gender norms and is a form of free expression. The article contends that art is inherently queer and that censoring drag would erase significant cultural works, including films like Victor/Victoria, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Priscilla, Tootsie, and Mrs. Doubtfire, as well as TV shows RuPaul's Drag Race and Pose. It also references painter Leonard Rosoman, Shakespeare's cross-dressing comedies, Italian artist Lisetta Carmi's non-conforming bodies, and Drusilla Foer's performance at Sanremo 2022. The piece questions whether the "prurient" gaze lies with viewers seeking scapegoats, noting that the Republican leader is on trial for sexual misconduct.