We Must Stand With Our Sisters - This Is Why

Drag queen (and ordained minister) Bella DuBalle won't be silenced by new Tenn. law

March 16, 2023 - 12:51 PM ET

Heard on Fresh Air
Terry Gross

NPR Link

Please Listen - An Amazing Interview

Tennessee's new law criminalizing public drag performances goes into effect April 1. The law, which refers to "male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest," makes it an offense for a person to engage in an adult cabaret performance on public property — or in a location where the performance could be viewed by children.

Bella DuBalle

The first offense for violating the law is a misdemeanor, with a fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail. Subsequent violations could be felonies, punishable by up to 6 years in prison.

Tennessee native Bella DuBalle is an ordained minister and also the show director and host at Atomic Rose, the largest drag club in Memphis. She says the Tennessee law was written by legislators who don't understand what drag is.

"The idea that they think that every drag performer is doing something hypersexual or obscene obviously means they don't know very much about it," DuBalle says. "I cannot succinctly put into words what the entire art of drag is, and the fact that these legislators who know far less about the art than I do and have never been to a drag show are sitting out there making these laws — that's a little upsetting."

One of the points in the interview: 
        On when straight men do drag, it makes a joke of femininity

When a straight person does it, it's a joke. ... When I put on a dress, it is a statement of strength. It is a statement of how powerful my femininity is. So for me, I think it's about the way that we approach the feminine. The patriarchy has always used drag as another way to reinforce that women are weaker. I think we, as the queer community, actually champion that pride or that femininity. We're very proud of something that other people are deeply ashamed of 

__________________

First they came for the Drag Queens

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Drag Queen

....

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me. 

See my post "First They Came..."

Tennessee drag queen Bella DuBalle 

More Here -Tennessee drag queens are “fearful” and “angry” after the state passed a ban on their art form – but they won’t stop fighting.