New wave dance-rock icons The B-52’s have shared a brand new assertion supporting drag performers and transgender individuals, citing the a number of proposed payments at the moment working their means by GOP-led state legislatures that ban drag present performances.
Final week, as The Hill reported, Tennessee turned the primary U.S. state to enact such a regulation explicitly focusing on drag reveals. Signed March 2, Senate Invoice 3, often known as the Tennessee drag ban, prohibits public “grownup cabaret efficiency” within the state.
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It defines grownup cabaret efficiency as any efficiency with “topless dancers, go-go dancers, unique dancers, strippers, male or feminine impersonators who present leisure that appeals to a prurient curiosity,” in line with CNN. On the similar time, Tennessee’s Senate Invoice 0001 bans gender-affirming look after trans-identifying people.
The B-52’s Denounce Anti-Drag Payments
“We, The B-52’s, are deeply involved in regards to the quite a few new payments that promote transphobia and discrimination towards transgender people and drag artists, which have been launched in the US,” the band writes.
“We strongly denounce these payments and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ group,” they proceed. “It’s unacceptable that within the twenty first century, we’re witnessing such blatant makes an attempt to undermine the rights of people primarily based on their gender id and sexual orientation. These payments not solely violate the elemental human rights of the affected people but additionally perpetuate a poisonous tradition of hate and intolerance that has no place in our society.”
The B-52’s add, “Be part of us in denouncing these payments and standing in help of our LGBTQ+ group. Collectively, allow us to work in the direction of constructing a society that displays our shared being and is actually simply, inclusive, and welcoming for all.”
Will There Be Extra Anti-Drag Payments within the U.S.?
Final month, a minimum of 9 state legislatures had been pushing related anti-drag payments, as NPR reported.
Republican state Sen. Jack Johnson mentioned that the Tennessee invoice “isn’t focusing on any group of individuals. It doesn’t ban drag reveals in public. It merely places age restrictions in place to make sure that youngsters should not current at sexually express performances.”
RuPaul, maybe America’s best-known drag artist, took to social media final week to touch upon the information. “Hey, look over there — a traditional distraction approach, distracting us away from the true points that they had been voted into workplace to deal with: jobs, healthcare, holding our kids protected from hurt,” RuPaul mentioned, per EW.
The B-52’s, who performed a farewell tour final 12 months, have lengthy been supporters of the LGBTQ+ group.
The B-52’s’ Assertion – March 8, 2023
Musicians Who Ran for Political Workplace
These rockers not solely made music, but additionally wished to make a distinction on the planet.