Hollywood couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick playfully showed their support for the art of drag following dozens of anti-drag bills being pushed by Republican lawmakers across the country.
These GOP bills first introduced and signed into law by Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee criminalize “adult cabaret performances” in public spaces–especially ones that include “male or female impersonators" they claim are “harmful to minors."
Many conservatives and far-right groups claim these provisions help protect children—advocating for the banning of drag performances.
In protest of the anti-drag movement, Bacon and his wife of 35 years teamed up for a pro-drag TikTok video of them grooving along to Taylor Swift's "Karma" off her latest album Midnights.
The power couple wore jeans and matching T-shirts featuring an illustration of a drag performer's face with a message above that read:
"Drag is an art and drag is a right."
Taking the keyword from Swift's song, the caption for the video posted to Bacon's TikTok page read:
"Drag bans are bad karma. Right now, drag performers and the LGBTQIA+ community need our help."
He then encouraged followers to:
"Tap the link in my bio to shop the #SixDegreesOfKB campaign supporting the @aclu Drag Defense Fund in the nationwide effort to protect creative expression or make a gift. #DragIsARight
The video prompted an outpouring of love and gratitude from the LGBTQ+ community.
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
The song choice in the video was appropriate.
According to Swift–who is currently smashing records with her sold-out U.S. Eras Tour–karma embodies everything that is positive in life.
This is reflected in the singer's lyrics.
"Karma is my boyfriend / Karma is a god /Karma is the breeze in my hair on the weekend / Karma's a relaxing thought / Aren't you envious that for you it's not?"
Swift explained to Zane Lowe on Apple Music’s New Music Daily:
"‘Karma’ is written from a perspective of feeling, like, really happy, really proud of the way your life is, feeling like this must be a reward for doing stuff right.”
Kinda like drag shows–which, contrary to conservatives' fear, is good karma and does not pose any public threat to the American people of all generations.
Fans were here to see worlds colliding.
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
TikTokers also couldn't help but comment on how amazing the couple looks.
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
@kevinbacon/TikTok
In a followup video, Bacon commented on the threatened art form.
He said:
"Drag is a centuries-old art form of creativity, expression, and self-exploration."
"It's an opportunity to educate through entertainment and it's not dangerous."
The Footloose actor then encouraged followers to help amplify the voices of those facing injustice by joining him in supporting the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Drag Defense Fund.
He wrote in the caption:
"Drag performers and the LGBTQIA+ community are facing unwarranted censorship and threats across the country."
"Like all artistic expression, drag is protected by the First Amendment and should be respected."
Can we get an 'Amen' up in here?
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