A Fort Worth bar that hosts weekly drag shows allows minors to attend at their parents’ discretion.
Red Goose Saloon cocktail bar hosted another iteration of its “Moondance Drag Brunch” on Sunday afternoon. The bar, owned by Chris Hutchinson, is hosting recurring iterations of the show every Sunday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. until May 1.
“Drag Brunch is Fort Worth’s PREMIER drag show, featuring a cast of superstars and hosted by Fort Worth Weekly Critic’s Choice for Best Drag Performer of 2023, Salem Moon. Shows are recommended 16+ for some language and musical content,” reads Visit Fort Worth’s website.
“Language and some suggestive humor [are] involved in the show. No strong sexual content permitted,” the event’s website reads.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, all-ages drag shows have prompted scrutiny and protests all over Texas in recent years. Such shows have also been criticized for supposedly being “derisive, divisive, and demoralizing misogyny.” West Texas A&M University president Walter Wendler described drag in such terms when he canceled a drag show at the university in March of 2023.
The most recent show at Red Goose Saloon was headlined by Salem Moon, who the Texas Scorecard described as “a man who performs dressed as a hyper-sexualized caricature of a woman.”
The Dallas Express was unable to obtain tickets to the show. However, no discernible minors were spotted when attendees began to leave the venue.
DX asked the bar to relay a request for comment to Hutchinson, asking him if he thought it was appropriate for minors to attend drag shows in light of the misogyny claims made by some critics and if he himself was, in fact, a misogynist. He did not reply by press time.
Texas Family Project (TFP), an organization that says it is dedicated to safeguarding Texas children and families, tried to raise awareness about the weekly show on social media ahead of Sunday’s iteration, imploring concerned individuals to call the venue and “let them know that Texans do NOT accept sexually explicit drag shows for children, now or ever.”
Brady Gray, president of TFP, told the Texas Scorecard earlier this week that his organization will continue to oppose children attending such shows.
“Not only is the Red Goose Saloon intending to continue to allow children at their event, but they’ve also responded to requests to simply restrict these explicit shows to be 18+ with anger and disdain. Although it is sad and embarrassing that we must pass legislation to stop perverts from grooming children, it is essential that the 5th Circuit uphold Senate Bill 12 and stop this evil,” said Gray. “In any case, Texas Family Project will continue to expose these people and fight against the grooming and sexualization of Texas kids.”