In the midst of a range of pressing issues such as rampant gun violence, the growing climate crisis, and increasing inflation, Republicans have chosen to make drag one of the most pressing, dangerous issues in the land. Recently, Tennessee passed what amounts to an all-out ban on public drag shows, and similar anti-drag legislation is brewing in other states.
These bills have been condemned by LGBTQ+ and trans advocates, who warn that they could be used to attack queer folk and criminalize gender non-conformity. Conservatives claim that it’s about protecting children, but that argument ignores the basic fact that drag poses no inherent threat to children. In fact, there are family-friendly forms of drag just as there are family-friendly forms of every entertainment, and drag has been part of the fabric of society for centuries.
The history of drag goes back a long way. Actors have dressed and performed as other genders for as long as theater has existed. While drag is a distinct style of performance with strong ties with the LGBTQ+ community, theater throughout history laid the foundation on which modern drag exists. In ancient Greek theater, for example, female roles were played by men. In Western opera, singers have been cast as any gender. The term “drag” is believed to have originated in 19th-century English theater slang, originally referring to men who performed wearing what was considered traditionally women’s clothing.
Despite the conservative crackdowns, drag has continued to persist throughout history. Vaudeville, a popular type of entertainment consisting of short acts such as comedy, singing, and dancing, was especially popular in the early 20th century and served as a precursor to modern drag performances. One of the biggest stars of this period was Julian Eltinge, a pioneering American drag artist or female impersonator as they were known at the time. Eltinge was at one point the highest-paid actor in the US.
Drag has even been embraced in the US at various points throughout history. During the 1920s and ’30s, drag was celebrated in what was known as the “pansy craze.” Soldiers creatively kept boredom at bay by performing in drag during WWII. The propaganda/fundraising play turned film This Is the Army featured actual soldiers dressing in drag for multiple scenes, for crowds of all ages. And not one but two Republican politicians were in the movie: future president and governor of California, Ronald Reagan, as well as George Murphy (eventual senator for California).
Emphasizing threats to children is a well-established strategy for conveying a perceived decline of American culture, norms, and values. In the 1970s, anti-LGBTQ+ activist Anita Bryant launched her “Save Our Children” political campaign, claiming queer people were “recruiting children.” Half a century later, bigoted fears regarding advancements in LGBTQ+ rights have produced legislation restricting discussions of queerness in schools, stoked claims drag performers are “groomers,” and rolled back access to gender-affirming healthcare for trans people.
It’s no accident that legislation aiming to ban drag specifically targets drag performed in front of children. But drag has been an integral part of art and theater across global history, and it won’t be pushed back into the closet nor will it be erased by conservatives seeking to battle against LGBTQ+ and trans rights in their culture war. Drag remains a