TL;DR
- Texas reinstates a partial ban on drag performances.
- Non-binary drag queen Brigitte Bandit responds defiantly.
- Law targets “sexually oriented” shows with fines and jail time.
- Bandit reminds followers drag is still legal in many forms.
- Activists warn of rising anti-LGBTQ sentiment in Texas.
Brigitte Bandit Takes On Texas’ Drag Crackdown
Texas just got a little less fabulous—but don’t tell that to Brigitte Bandit. The non-binary drag star fired back at lawmakers after the state approved a partial ban on drag performances, promising that the queens aren’t going anywhere.
The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a 2023 ruling that had struck down Senate Bill 12, giving new life to a measure that punishes “sexually oriented performances.” Businesses could face fines up to $10,000, while performers themselves could spend up to a year behind bars or pay $4,000 for the crime of putting on a show.
Though the law never says the word “drag,” everyone knows exactly who it’s aimed at. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick have proudly made it their mission to police sequins and stilettos under the guise of protecting children.
Brigitte Bandit, who uses both she/her and they/them pronouns, didn’t waste time addressing the ruling. Taking to Instagram, she set the record straight: “Drag story times are still legal, drag shows are still legal. Book and support your local drag. We need it now more than ever.”
“We’re Not Going Anywhere”
Bandit has never been shy about fighting back. She was part of the legal challenge that briefly blocked the bill last year, and her activism has only grown stronger since. “When I started drag, I would have never imagined this is where my career would take me: fighting for the right… just to f**king wear some makeup and a wig,” she said.
It’s not just about her own stage rights—it’s about protecting the entire queer community. “You see a lot of increased violence against trans people and it’s scary,” Bandit explained. “It’s scary just being visibly queer right now.”
Her message resonates far beyond the Lone Star State. The battle over drag has become a symbol of the broader war on LGBTQ rights sweeping the US. What began as moral panic over “protecting children” has turned into a movement to erase queer visibility altogether.
The Bigger Picture: Queer Resistance
To many in the LGBTQ community, the Texas drag ban isn’t just an isolated attack—it’s part of a national strategy to roll back hard-won freedoms. From book bans to trans healthcare restrictions, conservative lawmakers have targeted queer identity itself.
But queens like Brigitte Bandit remind us that resilience is built into drag’s DNA. Every wig glued, every lip sync performed, every crowd that cheers is a small act of rebellion.
For queer Texans, her message is simple: visibility is power. “Book your local drag show,” she urged. “Support us. Celebrate us. Because they can’t ban joy.”
In a state that once prided itself on freedom, Brigitte Bandit is reclaiming that promise—one glittered lash at a time.