Texas state authorities have launched an investigation into a Dallas club that hosted a highly publicized drag show that invited children to participate.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced on August 5 that his office would look into potential code violations by the Oaklawn area club Mr. Misster after the club hosted an event titled “Drag the Kids to Pride.”
“Like many Texas parents, I was disturbed by the recent images showing children participating in a drag show in the Dallas area, including one image of a child placing money in a performer’s undergarment,” Hegar noted.
The comptroller serves as the state’s chief financial officer, acting as “tax collector, chief accountant, chief revenue estimator, and chief treasurer for all of state government.”
Through his role as tax collector, Comptroller Hegar’s investigation will examine whether the club must pay the “Sexually Oriented Business Fee” under the Business Code.
The “Drag the Kids to Pride” event in question was held on June 4 at a bar named Mr. Misster in Dallas’ “Gayborhood,” as reported by The Dallas Express.
As adults dressed in drag guided young children down the runway, onlookers cheered and tipped the performers. Decorating the building were signs pronouncing “it’s not gonna lick itself” and “I licked it so it’s mine.”
The event page said that the show would provide “the ultimate family-friendly pride experience.” It asked the potential child attendees, “Do you want to hit the stage with the queens? We have FIVE limited spots for young performers.”
As reported by The Dallas Express, protesters picketed outside during the show.
Mr. Misster explained to The Dallas Express that it “alerted the authorities of all homophobic threats, transphobic remarks, and vile accusations,” and further stated:
“While we welcome everyone, behavior of this sort will not be tolerated in our establishment and any display of hate within our four walls will be handled to the fullest extent by the authorities.”
Mary Elizabeth Castle, the senior policy advisor for Texas Values, told The Dallas Express that they are “very pleased with Comptroller Hegar taking it a step further to see if the show was in violation of the law,” noting that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to enter sexually oriented businesses.
She said Texas parents “need to be vigilant in guarding their children from these sexually explicit shows and actively support legislation to further protect them.”
Supporters of the show, such as Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martinez, defended the event, saying, “In a state that has a history of being openly hostile to LGBTQ+ people, drag shows have been creating safe places for our community for nearly a century. … Fear-mongering puts those spaces at risk.” Mr. Martinez did not speak to the direct complaint of opponents … that the concern was about the attendance of children.
If the comptroller decides that Mr. Misster was acting as a sexually oriented business and liable to the fines and regulations imposed by law, it is unclear how far the ripple effects would reach.
The comptroller’s office declined to respond to inquiries from The Dallas Express about whether such a verdict would effectively mean all places where a drag show is held, whether children were in attendance or not, would become similarly liable.
I am so relieved to hear something is being done about this. It shouldn’t have happened, it is child abuse and grooming in plain sight.
Grooming is what the catholic church does, as well as other evangelical establishments. Children shouldn’t be subjected to indoctrination until they have the ability to decided for them selves.
Mr. Mr. is definitely not a sexually oriented business. It is a neighborhood dive bar that welcomes all people in the community.
So, with all the pics I see floating around Facebook of kids ACTIVELY GROPING Hooters girls at that “restaurant”, we’re labeling them a sexually oriented business that bans kids too, yes? Where’s the State’s fever-pitched investigation into Hooters? Dad taking the kids to oogle scantily dressed women qualifies as “grooming” by the very same metric that has been applied to drag shows, whether your perverted bias lets you see it that way or not.
The name of the show say’s it all, “DRAG Your The Kids To Pride”. I’m sure that if the kids knew that the performers were really men and had penises they would be grossed out and wouldn’t want to be there. Forcing homosexuality on children is child abuse and the parents and bar owners should be arrested.
You are stupid
The name of the show say’s it all, “DRAG Your The Kids To Pride”. I’m sure that if the kids knew that the performers were really men and had man parts they would be grossed out, wouldn’t have wanted to go and would have to had to been DRAGGED there. Forcing that kind of stuff on children is child abuse. The parents and bar owners should be arrested.
Where’s your outrage at evangelical churches, far-right political terrorists, etc that are WAY more harmful to chirldren ?
Not to mention so many children subjected to divorcves, which the Bible has way more negative comments about compared to homosexuality.
The Secular Life
Does Christianity Harm Children?We need to talk more openly about the abusive aspects of Christian theology.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-secular-life/201408/does-christianity-harm-children
I have some conservative and liberal leanings, but this venue should be for ADULTS only, and certainly not allow kids below 18 years of age inside, much less participate. Whatever an adults perversions or tastes, has it’s place, but don’t get kids involved. I think penalties should be imposed for violating the age laws. Next, kids could be shown how to do drugs, and drink liquor in such an adult establishment.
It is story time with drag queens. Stop making this into something it’s not. It is safer than Baptist and Catholic Church, let’s be honest here