Posted on Dec 27, 2022
After the Club Q shooting, drag queens say they're upping security measures
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https://www.npr.org/2022/12/27/ [login to see] /drag-show-threats-bans-club-q-shooting
Drag performers, known for their exuberance in the spotlight, have found their spirits subdued in the last month by serious concerns for their safety on stage.
Police have yet to disclose a motive behind the Nov. 19 shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., which left five people dead and at least 17 others injured. A 22-year-old suspect was charged with 305 criminal counts, including bias-motivated crimes.
The gunman opened fire just as Club Q was wrapping up its weekly Saturday evening drag show. The nightclub had also planned another drag show for the following morning, to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Though it's unclear if the gunman was targeting the drag show specifically or the nightclub as a whole, the attack was a tipping point for many in the drag community.
After a growing number of threats against performances and the LGBTQ-friendly venues that host them, some performers say they've started to use security guards, metal detectors and escape routes to ensure their shows can go on safely.
"I'm just aware there's security guards all around this building"
Drag performers, known for their exuberance in the spotlight, have found their spirits subdued in the last month by serious concerns for their safety on stage.
Police have yet to disclose a motive behind the Nov. 19 shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., which left five people dead and at least 17 others injured. A 22-year-old suspect was charged with 305 criminal counts, including bias-motivated crimes.
The gunman opened fire just as Club Q was wrapping up its weekly Saturday evening drag show. The nightclub had also planned another drag show for the following morning, to honor Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Though it's unclear if the gunman was targeting the drag show specifically or the nightclub as a whole, the attack was a tipping point for many in the drag community.
After a growing number of threats against performances and the LGBTQ-friendly venues that host them, some performers say they've started to use security guards, metal detectors and escape routes to ensure their shows can go on safely.
"I'm just aware there's security guards all around this building"
After the Club Q shooting, drag queens say they're upping security measures
Posted from npr.org
LGBTQ+
Safety
Security
Threat
Colorado Springs
Posted >1 y ago
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These idiots on the Right are being met and out numbered by counter protesters.
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SSG Dave Johnston
Interesting that the shooter identified as "Non-Binary' at booking, flustered the hell out of the CNN news reader when she read that off the tele-prompter.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel live & let live...
..."In the past year, Republican lawmakers in six states have proposed or introduced bills to restrict drag performances. Though each proposal varies slightly, many revolve around a similar theme: banning minors from drag shows.
One Texas bill would classify any "performance in which a performer exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer's gender assigned at birth" as a "sexually oriented business," bringing it on par with strip clubs.
In Michigan, House Republicans proposed a law that gives parents the power to sue public schools that host drag shows, despite being unable to identify any schools that had actually hosted drag shows.
Federally funded institutions such as libraries would also be banned from hosting drag shows if a federal bill proposed this October passes. Thirty House Republicans have signaled their support for the measure, according to GLAAD.
Drag performers say that each and every drag show is as unique as the performer; not every show bills itself as being appropriate for all ages.
"I think this is something we'll have to evolve through as our audience expands," said Thunderf***, who, if her last name didn't give it away, rates herself as PG-13. She believes that maybe a standardized rating system could help put audiences and critics at ease.
Because, Thunderf*** says, if audience enthusiasm and ticket sales are any indication, drag isn't leaving the spotlight anytime soon.
"If anything, I think it's galvanized us," she says of the shooting. "The simple act of going to a drag show now is an act of activism and an act of bravery. We're very aware that just by doing this we may be in danger. But that's not going to stop us."
..."In the past year, Republican lawmakers in six states have proposed or introduced bills to restrict drag performances. Though each proposal varies slightly, many revolve around a similar theme: banning minors from drag shows.
One Texas bill would classify any "performance in which a performer exhibits a gender identity that is different than the performer's gender assigned at birth" as a "sexually oriented business," bringing it on par with strip clubs.
In Michigan, House Republicans proposed a law that gives parents the power to sue public schools that host drag shows, despite being unable to identify any schools that had actually hosted drag shows.
Federally funded institutions such as libraries would also be banned from hosting drag shows if a federal bill proposed this October passes. Thirty House Republicans have signaled their support for the measure, according to GLAAD.
Drag performers say that each and every drag show is as unique as the performer; not every show bills itself as being appropriate for all ages.
"I think this is something we'll have to evolve through as our audience expands," said Thunderf***, who, if her last name didn't give it away, rates herself as PG-13. She believes that maybe a standardized rating system could help put audiences and critics at ease.
Because, Thunderf*** says, if audience enthusiasm and ticket sales are any indication, drag isn't leaving the spotlight anytime soon.
"If anything, I think it's galvanized us," she says of the shooting. "The simple act of going to a drag show now is an act of activism and an act of bravery. We're very aware that just by doing this we may be in danger. But that's not going to stop us."
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