Drag show kerfuffle latest Culture War skirmish
The oddly parked cars suggested this wasn’t a typical Saturday night at the Abilene Community Theatre.
In fact, it wasn’t a theater night at all. Instead, the building had been rented for a different type of performance.
Instead of parking inside the stalls in the parking lot, a handful were lined up together, creating a wall that shielded people standing outside the building’s door. At the end of the line, a group of about five people guarded the entrance to the area, brandishing open, colorful umbrellas to form their own brand of gate.
The reason for the defense was clear to anyone who followed the story of the evening’s performance in the local media. A group had rented the building to host a “family-friendly” drag show, angering some in the community.
Adding fuel to the campfire was the fact that the building is actually owned by the City of Abilene, of which ACT is the managing tenant. When contacted, city officials said there were no contractual restrictions on the theater company as to who they could rent the space.
Politeness drags on
It was Abilene’s latest Kulturkampf, a call to arms for people trying to keep the outside world just that – outside. While others have dismissed it with a “live and let live” attitude.
Drag and the larger trans community are having a moment right now, but it’s not necessarily a good one. Bills are going through state legislatures to make these shows illegal.
In Texas, a proposed law would classify venues that host a drag show as a sexually oriented business.
Talking to the evening’s host, Cecilia Ford, is a bit like talking to Batman. You don’t get the person’s real name, just the performative one, including the relevant pronouns. Ultimately, this is done for security reasons and for the privacy of family members.
Last Saturday’s show was a fundraiser for Ford, who hopes to make it to the Miss National Bearded Empress Pageant 2023 in Orlando, Fla. on April 17.
Wearing a strapless dress with red sequins, a blonde Pamela Anderson-style wig and a cropped beard, Ford explained the controversial past of facial hair with drag.
“Bearded queens aren’t usually taken seriously in the industry just because they’re considered lazy,” she said, joking. “They say it’s easier to put on makeup (without it), and I have a face full of wrinkles that says otherwise.”
The pageant she is aiming for is built on inclusivity, she continued. Anyone can take part, regardless of whether they want to grow a beard or just want to “pin” one on.
“Unity is about access for all,” she said, then gestured toward the door and parking lot outside. “They don’t understand, but we do.
“We know what community is about because we’re celebrating it here tonight.”
“Something we don’t need here”
After all the hubbub, there wasn’t a massive protest outside of ACT.
In fact, there were mainly four men, one of whom was graciously distributing Bible tracts, all of whom seemed to have just met for the first time but still had to be present.
“I’m just out here preaching the good news of Jesus Christ to anyone who will listen and letting them know that if they repent and turn from their sins, they can spend an eternity with the Lord, as opposed to one Eternity of condemnation,” Judah Davis said.
His tracts were printed on tiny pieces of paper, about the size of a small biscuit, and he had varying degrees of success with those he addressed. Some listened, others stopped him at arm’s length before he could get a word out and hurried to the theater.
Charles Byrn is known to politically active Abilenians for his positions against the Abilene Public Library, as well as for his involvement in last year’s Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance, passed in November. Significantly, he had strong opinions about the evening’s show.
Byrn ran unsuccessfully for both Abilene City Council and the ISD Board.
“I’m just fed up out here with the stuff that’s coming to Abilene in the name of diversity,” he said. “It’s just something we don’t need here.”
Beside him, Jason Wilson voiced his thoughts.
“I’m grateful that the city has spoken out and that they’ve changed the requirements for attending the event,” he said.
“Me too,” Byrne said. “I’m glad there are a lot of people who have spoken out in favor of not having children here. Kids shouldn’t be on a drag show, or whatever that show is supposed to be.”
Family-friendly train
In fact, there would be no children on the show.
Ford said the family-friendly show originally planned would have none of the burlesque elements that Saturday’s gig had after they were forced to do it 18 and over.
Instead, it would have been modeled after the drag brunches that Ford said were being held in Abilene until protests forced them to close last summer.
“My friends who are parents took their kids to brunch and loved supporting drag, they loved watching it. And that’s why I wanted to create a family-friendly show for this fundraiser so that I could give my friends the opportunity to bring their kids and support their friends,” said Ford.
According to Ford, had the show gone as planned, it would have focused on songs of empowerment.
“As far as activism goes, I’m really focused on trans rights,” she said. “Music that really sends a message to women, trans people and queer people in general; that you have power, that you have presence and that you are seen. That’s what this show should be about.”
Queer West Texans
However, nothing was known of this in the parking lot.
“I don’t know. I’m not going to go and find out,” Byrn said. “I mean, we’re seeing if kids are going to perform. That’s our main purpose, to protect our kids.
“Just like the book group I belong to. We try to protect children from the pornographic books in the library. That is the same.”
“We’re proud to be Abilenier,” Davis said. “We’re glad people spoke out and protected their children from inappropriate content.”
Byrn added: “I’ve been here for 24 years and never thought it would come to Abilene.”
But Ford said drag shows had been happening in the city for a lot longer.
“Whether he’s talking about a drag show or not, listen; Ever since Abilene, there have been queer people in Abilene. Since day one,” she said. “Drag has been in Abilene since 1983.”
Ford described working with someone last year who performed in Key City in the 1980s.
“They had so many stories about the gay bars that used to be in Abilene and the shows and pageants that used to happen,” she said. “There was once a really rich queer life in Abilene.
“It’s so silly to think this is new, queer people just showing up from California or something. We’re West Texans!”