Following an all-ages drag show this past weekend in Dallas, a Texas Republican has promised to submit legislation prohibiting children from attending drag performances “and other inappropriate displays” as soon as possible.
Republican state Rep. Bryan Slaton of Greenville, Texas, claimed his bill would be presented “as soon as the next legislative session begins” to “protect” children from “drag shows and other indecent exhibits.”
After a weekend event at a Dallas pub described as a “family-friendly” drag show garnered protesters and a police presence, Slaton unveiled his proposed bill.
Video of the “Drag the Kids to Pride” event at the Mr. Misster Bar posted to social media showed performers dancing and walking down an aisle in the center of the room with a neon sign that read “It’s not gonna lick itself” and “I licked it so it’s mine.” and taking dollar bills from children in attendance.’
The drag event for children at a gay bar in Dallas, Texas was called “Drag the Kids to Pride.” It was held at the Mr. Misster gay bar & club. Children & transvestites danced in front of an electronic sign that read, “It’s not gonna lick itself.” pic.twitter.com/tcgiqhqCbH
— Andy Ngô 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) June 4, 2022
“Drag shows are no place for a child,” the East Texas Republican wrote on Twitter, adding that he intends to file legislation in the state prohibiting drag events “in the company of minors.”
Protesters gathered outside the bar in Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood, WFAA-TV reported, while police were on hand to “assist with crowd control” and help the crowd “disperse in a safe manner.”
Slaton tweeted:
“At a drag show in Dallas this past weekend, sick adults enticed kids to put dollar bills into the underwear of men dressed as women. This is disgusting and dangerous. It can’t be allowed to continue. My Republican colleagues and I will protect kids from these sickos.”
He further stated that he would never bring his children to such an event and that no other parent would be able to do so.
Slaton said in a statement:
“The events of this past weekend were horrifying and show a disturbing trend in which perverted adults are obsessed with sexualizing young children. As a father of two young children, I would never take my children to a drag show, and I know Speaker Dan Phelan and the rest of my Republican colleagues wouldn’t either. Protecting our own children isn’t enough, and our responsibility as lawmakers extends to the sexualization that is happening across Texas.”
Slaton also said he would “continue his fight to make sex change therapies on minors” defined in state law as “child abuse,” in his statement.
“I promised my voters that I would stand up for their values and fight to protect Texas kids,” Slaton said. “I was re-elected on that promise and I intend to keep it by authoring legislation to defend kids from being subjected to drag shows and other inappropriate events. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation.”
Texas state officials began investigating parents who provide their transgender children access to gender-affirming care in February after receiving an order from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Sources: Dailywire, CBSaustin, Thepostmillennial