Constitutional lawyer gives speech on drag shows while changing into a dress
A drag show fundraiser was banned at West Texas A&M, but a constitutional law scholar found a new way of challenging the ban.
Speaking Wednesday, Andrew Seidel, who sometimes writes for Religion Dispatches, spoke out about the ongoing battle between the university and student groups. At the end of March, several local chapters of organizations were hosting a drag show to benefit The Trevor Project, which works to prevent suicide for LGBTQ youth.
"The student groups met all the university’s requirements, booked an on-campus venue, and began to advertise the event and sell tickets," said Religion Dispatches. "Then, 11 days before the drag fundraiser was set to take place, WT President Walter Wendler, who has a record of inserting his right-wing Christian bias into his public roles, unilaterally canceled the performance via a pedantic email."
Wendler tried to make a "feminist" excuse, saying that drag "denigrates women." He then brought his personal faith into the equation, talking about his belief that “every human being is created in the image of God.”
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them," says The Bible in Genesis 1:27.
Wendler admitted that he was likely breaking the law by barring the event from moving forward, saying he wouldn't allow it because it offends him personally, “even when the law of the land appears to require it.”
In his speech, Seidel sided with the students, saying that they were right about the Constitutional rights afforded to them. He explained that they have a right to free expression, and their rights were violated by Wendler.
He outlined the First Amendment rights of freedom of religion and the separation of church and state. There's also the matter of "religious freedom" being used by Christian nationalists to justify sexism and homophobia while pushing back against civil rights, Seidel explained.
He then walked through the history of drag in art, harkening back to the Shakespeare reference "Dr.A.G," written in the stage directions. It stood for "dressed as girl." It has become a big part of comedy throughout the ages, he explained while beginning to change into a long black skirt, pantyhose, blue heels, gold dangling earrings, and a rainbow feather boa. He kept the outfit on along with his blazer and purple tie.
See the full video in the clip below or at the link.
Leave a Comment
Related Post