Straight male rockers are wearing dresses and wigs to protest draconian legislation targeting drag bans and LGBTQ+ people, much to the delight of their legions of fans.
Vandoliers, a six-member country-punk band, learned about a new Tennessee bill in February that criminalized public drag shows as "harmful to minors" while on tour. The band's multi-instrumentalist, Cory Graves, said he immediately knew what they needed to do before their show at the Shed Smokehouse & Juke Joint in Maryville, Tennessee.
So, they went shopping for dresses.
Graves said:
“We had just seen that the law was maybe going to be signed around the time that we were going to be in Tennessee. I was looking at our calendar and I was like, ‘Oh, s**t, we're going to be in Tennessee in two days."
"I'm going to get a dress and do this, because I believe in it.’ It's like a middle finger, and just a show of support to a class of people that's getting s**t on for no reason." ...
"And so, we all went to some vintage stores and had the shop ladies help us find dresses. They were trying to show us what would look good on our broad-shouldered bodies or whatever.”
The band posted about their efforts to their official Instagram account—and its members are even auctioning off their dresses.
According to Graves, cross-dressing as a form of protest is not frequently seen in country music. Therefore, it was crucial for them to not only support the queer community but also to support queer country musicians. This is because the genre does not embrace them "as much as it should."
After the Vandoliers' drag protest, other male rock bands who identify as straight and cisgender have also staged their own drag performances as a form of protest.
In one instance, the two male members of the indie-rock band Yo La Tengo, Ira Kaplan and James McNew, performed their encore in drag during a show in Nashville on March 13.
While they did not address the anti-drag law during their set, the band released a statement through their record label, Matador Records, stating that their performance spoke for itself and required "no further comment."
\u201cIra and James playing in drag yesterday in Tennessee, in response to the anti-drag bill that passed just some weeks ago.\n\nYo La Tengo for president, someone said at Yellowjackets, and I agree.\n\n[Photo by Chris Conrad, via FB]\u201d— Ethel Baraona Pohl (@Ethel Baraona Pohl) 1678787237
In reaction to a new Florida bill that claims drag shows pose a "serious danger to public health and safety" for children, pop-rock group Guster wore dresses during their encore at the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Guster drummer Brian Rosenworcel later tweeted:
“Never played an encore in drag before but we did just that in Ponte Vedra FL tonight. Wouldn’t have thought to do it but all the attention from Florida politicians convinced us to try. Kinda liked it. Thanks for the idea Ron DeSantis!”
You can see his tweet below.
\u201cNever played an encore in drag before but we did just that in Ponte Vedra FL tonight.\n\nWouldn\u2019t have thought to do it but all the attention from Florida politicians convinced us to try.\n\nKinda liked it.\n\nThanks for the idea Ron DeSantis!\u201d— Brian Rosenworcel (@Brian Rosenworcel) 1679897013
Many have praised the bands for speaking out and criticized Republicans for proposing such hateful legislation.
\u201c@Bowl_of_Worcel @guster This makes me love you even more than I already did \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Brian Rosenworcel (@Brian Rosenworcel) 1679897013
\u201c@Bowl_of_Worcel @guster You just gained a new fan! I looked up your music and I\u2019m listening to Dear Valentine right now as my first choice. Love it. Thank you!\u201d— Brian Rosenworcel (@Brian Rosenworcel) 1679897013
\u201c@ethel_baraona If the Republicans would get their minds out of the gutter they might realize the only ones hurting children is them.\u201d— Ethel Baraona Pohl (@Ethel Baraona Pohl) 1678787237
\u201cThe boys learning the struggles of lipstick stains and no pockets. Can say pretty confidently that I\u2019m the only person who was present for both. #hot @pattersonhood @jaydomgon @GhostofParties @drivebytruckers @vandoliers\u201d— Werk Bois (@Werk Bois) 1680473393
\u201cHAIR BANDS ARE BACK, BABY!!! And for the best reason!\nhttps://t.co/Pm2egJeXtR\u201d— Ray the Gay Supervillain (@Ray the Gay Supervillain) 1680459281
\u201cGotta love this support!\n\nStraight male rockers are donning frocks to protest anti-drag bills: 'If my job is to wear a dress to help, then I'll wear a dress all day.' https://t.co/2szuO0JemF\u201d— James Scott #MyViews (@James Scott #MyViews) 1680348445
It is probable that other musical groups will participate in drag protests in the coming days since several states in the United States are currently proposing anti-LGBTQ+ bills.
Vandoliers’ home state of Texas is one such state, with Republican state Representative Steve Toth having recently filing a bill that defines “drag” as an act performed by someone who “exhibits a gender that is different from the performer’s gender recorded at birth … and sings, lip-syncs, dances, or otherwise performs in a lascivious manner before an audience.”
The bill also allows minors in attendance to sue the performer. It has been criticized by opponents, who refer to it as a “drag bounty hunter bill.”
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