When you think about political lessons, a drag queen probably isn’t the first person to come to mind. But Brigitte Bandit, a drag performer from Austin, Texas, wants to change that. She’s no stranger to the political scene. While her main focus is on being a drag queen, she’s also been actively involved in Texas politics for some time.
Her latest project is a class called “LegiSLAYtion & Liberation,” where she breaks down various political topics and upcoming laws for attendees. Her goal is to make these often complicated subjects easier to understand so more people get engaged with politics instead of just tuning out.
Before launching this class, Brigitte took a stand against Senate Bills 12 and 1601, two pieces of legislation targeting drag performers that she found unacceptable. Bill 12 in particular aims to prevent kids from attending drag shows, with some lawmakers labeling these performances as inappropriate.
Brigitte didn’t just stop at testifying at the Texas Capitol. The drag queen also used her platform to rally support against the bills by wearing a dress listing the names of pastors accused of harming children. Later, she wore another dress that boldly stated, “Kids are safer in drag storytime than in church.”
Many people who’ve seen what the Austin drag queen is doing have been quick to show their support. They called her new event a fantastic idea and hope her efforts to teach people about politics will really make a difference. One user even said, “F*** yeah. She’s an icon and a treasure to the state and the drag community!”
While there aren’t many people openly against her, some have already jumped in to defend Brigitte preemptively. One redditor wrote, “For the haters, Brigitte is, and has always been, and was born a woman. No, you don’t have to be a gay man to be a drag queen. Thought you should know before you start talking s**t about trans people or whoever else you’re afraid of peeing next to while your pastor is off diddling your kids.”
One user even joked,
“Nothing this disgusting should be done in public. Drag queens used to do respectable things like hosting brunches and reading to kids. Keep discussion of the Lege where it belongs: behind closed doors and between consenting adults.”
It’s safe to say that many people, especially those on the liberal side, are standing with the drag queen. If you’re in the Austin area, you might want to check out the LegiSLAYtion & Liberation event, which takes place every Tuesday at 7 PM.
