In anticipation of a new state law regulating drag shows coming into effect, some local venues are no longer allowing children to attend their events.
In June, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill aimed at preventing minors from being exposed to “sexually oriented performances,” including shows in which “a male performer exhibiting as a female, or a female performer exhibiting as a male, who uses clothing, makeup, or other similar physical markers and who sings, lip syncs, dances, or otherwise performs before an audience.”
While the new law does not go into effect until September 1, The Trove in Bishop Arts is among the local venues making adjustments to comply.
“In the beginning, we were welcoming all ages, but because of the controversy that’s been happening recently, we did go ahead and switch it up to 21 and up,” owner T.J. Gonzalez told The Dallas Express. “We close our doors, and it’s a private event. … So, there are some changes we’ve had to make.”
Such events prompted numerous protests across the Dallas-Fort Worth area by activist organizations like Protect Texas Kids, which documents and protests “kid-friendly” drag shows. In a previous statement to The Dallas Express, activist Kelly Neidert claimed that anyone who approves of children attending drag shows is “okay with children being sexualized … and exposing children to extremely sexual content.”
“I truly don’t understand how anyone should be okay with that. I don’t know how anyone [who] knows what the drag show is could be okay with that,” Neidert said.
The Trove hosts “drag brunches” every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and has put on over 400 shows since its grand opening in February 2021. Gonzalez claimed the shows have become so popular that they often sell out.
While the new law has forced him to make some adjustments, Gonzalez said he believes his business will remain strong.
“We’ve already kind of adapted to it,” he told The Dallas Express. “The show’s 21 and up. It’s a private event, so I don’t think that will affect us.”
Texas is not the only state looking to regulate drag shows. At least 20 others have either made or are considering similar policy changes, with Ohio being the most recent to take up the issue.
“Honestly, I think it should be up to the parents,” Gonzalez said. “They choose to bring their kids and want them to experience that. I think the kids are going to end up growing up, and you see it, so I think it’s best to [leave it] to the parents.”
“I do think that because each has their own kind of stage presence, you never know what you’re going to get from a drag queen. … I’ve always told parents that our shows are ‘PG-13.’ It helps to give them a better understanding,” Gonzalez added.
The Dallas Express spoke with an attendee at The Trove’s Sunday drag brunch. She said such events are essentially an art form.
“I moved here from Miami, and I felt like when I moved to Dallas, the food scene was wonderful, but a lot of the art scene was lacking,” said Carolina Walter. “Some portion of that is drag shows because it is theater, and it is performance.”
Still, not everyone agrees. The cancellation of a drag show at West Texas A&M University made headlines earlier in 2023. University President Walter Wendler canceled the event over its “demoralizing” impact on women, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
“Drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood,” wrote Wendler in an email explaining why he shut down the show. “Drag shows are derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny, no matter the stated intent.”
