Brigitte Bandit, a prominent drag queen based in Austin, Texas, delivered a stirring testimony against a controversial bill known as SB12, designed to restrict certain types of performances in public spaces. The legislation, introduced by Republican state senator Bryan Hughes, specifically targets ‘sexually oriented performances,’ a term ambiguously defined within the bill to potentially include drag performances. A significant penalty of $10,000 awaits those who permit such acts on commercial properties, with public spaces like libraries at risk of losing state funding.
A Community Under Threat
The proposed legislation has already advanced through the Republican-controlled Texas State Senate and is now under consideration in the House of Representatives. During a public hearing with the House’s state affairs committee, Bandit eloquently addressed the baseless accusations and vilification of her community. “I’ve never had anyone express concern about me working with children until recently,” she commented, highlighting the absence of proof to support the claims that drag performers pose a risk to the safety of children.
Deceit and Misrepresentation
Bandit further revealed that images from a children’s story hour event she hosted had been manipulated to give the false impression that it occurred in a seedy nightclub. These doctored images were then used in a television advertisement by the Texas Family Project, an anti-LGBTQ+ group, to support the proposed law. “This bill is symbolic of the deceitful and dangerous blatant lies of these hate groups,” Bandit remarked, underscoring the unscrupulous tactics employed by those supporting the bill.
Standing Up Against Hate
In an impassioned appeal to the lawmakers, Bandit emphasized the real threats faced by the Texan community, such as the recent mass shooting in Allen, Texas. She urged the officials to focus on curbing such acts of violence rather than targeting the LGBTQ+ community. All through her testimony, Bandit wore a dress bearing the Texas flag and the names of victims from the Allen mass shooting and last year’s Uvalde elementary school massacre.
A Call for Support
In the wake of Bandit’s testimony, the Texas Family Project has called for public testimonies in favor of the bill. The group’s request for support comes in the wake of other controversial legislation introduced by Senator Hughes, including Texas’ strict abortion ban and proposed laws to limit voting rights.