In Texas, advocacy organizations like Equality Texas are keeping an eye on the 2023 Legislative Session. They have a list of Good and Bad Bills around LGBTQI+ issues, with a total bill count of 142 Good Bills and 140 Bad Bills. A slew of the bad bills’ purpose is to police businesses and “punish small businesses for creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.”
As reported by the Texas Tribune, HB 1266 by Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, would broaden the definition of sexually oriented businesses to include establishments that allow performers to wear clothes or makeup that exhibit a “gender identity that is different than the performer’s gender assigned at birth.”
This would impact all spaces that host drag and theatrical performances by imposing additional taxes, fees, and restrictions. Moreover, the law would ultimately label drag as something that is sexual in nature and, therefore, at the surface level and in the eyes of conservatives— something that is bad.
However, men dressed as women for entertainment only seems to be a problem if queer and trans people are the ones in the dress. Schatzline is shown in a video from his past where he donned a “little black dress” and ran around with his scene mates. Ironically the representative’s performance would be considered drag since he was “wearing a dress for entertainment purposes.”
Ultimately it is not about protecting children but continuing to limit self-expression and demonize queer and trans bodies. These attacks against the LGBTQIA+ community are not just in the halls of the Capitol but in our communities. While homophobia and transphobia have always been present, these values are presently being fomented by zealots and right wing strategists.
Under attack in the RGV
On February 19, 2023, South Texas Equality Project (STEP), a Rio Grande Valley-based LGBTQIA+ advocacy coalition, hosted a PRIDE event at the Landmark in Alamo, Texas, called Amor es Amor.
The event’s goal was to “create an all-ages, inclusive space for members of the LGBTQ+ community, to promote visibility, and provide an opportunity for attendees to learn more about and connect to local resources.” It included a resource fair featuring local organizations, fundraisers for LGBTQ+ scholarships awarded annually, and a drag show.