In a notable bid to challenge Florida’s restrictive political climate and anti-LGBTQ+ policies, Key West drag performer Michael Elgin Travis has filed to run against incumbent Republican state Rep. Jim Mooney in Florida House District 120. The move comes in the wake of the GOP’s recent endeavors to push a blatantly anti-LGBTQ+ agenda under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership.
Travis, also known as Erika Rose, is a ghost tour guide and bartender at Key West’s 801 Bourbon Bar and performs as a drag queen two nights a week at a Duval Street LGBTQ+ bar. Should he succeed in the election, Travis would make history as the first professional drag queen to serve in the state’s legislature, aiming to bring representation and understanding for communities that have felt marginalized and ignored.
The drag performer’s decision to enter the political arena was fueled by his involvement in a significant rally in Tallahassee, where hundreds of drag performers and supporters gathered to protest Florida’s S.B. 1438. This law, signed by Gov. DeSantis, raised concerns as it could have repercussions for drag shows and venues hosting such performances, often labeled as “sexually explicit adult entertainment” by anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans.
Among the many laws aimed at restricting LGBTQ+ rights in Florida, Travis also expressed strong opposition to the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which now prohibits the discussion of LGBTQ+ topics at all grade levels in schools. Regarding this measure, he didn’t mince words, denouncing it as “nonsense.”
Despite facing an uphill battle against the incumbent Mooney, who secured 60 percent of the vote in the previous election, Travis remains undeterred. He sees his candidacy as an opportunity to not only win the election but also inspire others and make them feel valued, instilling hope for a more inclusive and accepting political landscape in Florida.
As the campaign gains momentum, the outcome of this contest will undoubtedly be closely watched, considering its potential implications for LGBTQ+ rights and representation in the state’s legislative arena. The presence of a drag performer challenging the status quo sends a powerful message about the need for diverse voices and perspectives in the fight for equal rights and justice.