JinkxMonsoon, “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” star, doubled her condemnation of the Republican-led legislative push for drag performances in an interview that aired on Friday’s MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.”
Monsoon said to Ruhle, “What I want is to say to those trying to oppress my community right here, is that look at what’s happened each time you tried to oppress any community in America.” “You tried to oppress women and women won the vote. We don’t accept that you tried to oppress peoples of color.
She said, “We don’t accept that some citizens have to be on the outside looking in and being the outliers of society. That’s not what this nation was supposed to be founded on.”
According to NBC News, at least 16 states have proposed legislation this year that would limit drag performances. Most of the bills would ban performances in the presence minors and punish repeat violators with thousands of dollars. Others would ban the performance of the art in public and send repeat violators into prison.
Tennessee was the first state to passsuch legislation. It prohibits “adult cabaret entertainment” being performed on public property, or in places where minors can view it. Perpetrators who break the law multiple times can be charged with a felony, and could face a six-year sentence.
These measures are needed to protect children from inappropriate entertainment, argue supporters.
Critics like Monsoon claim these bills unfairly target art form due to its deep ties with the LGBTQ community.
Monsoon is currently playing the part of Matron “Mama Morton” in Broadway’s “Chicago.” She won season five and seven of “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.” She suggested that anti-drag legislation was a reaction to America’s changing gender norms.
She said that we have been taught to believe there is a right and wrong way to do certain things, and that there are natural and unnatural ways to do them. Imagine how frustrating it would be to spend your entire life following rules only to find out that they don’t exist.
She said, “We need to be told that whatever works best for you is normal and normal.”
Monsoon is a nonbinary who uses they/them pronouns in drag. She also addressed the Conservative Political Action Conference, where a speaker stated that “transgenderism must cease to exist in public life.” She stated that the comment was not what she was most afraid of.
She said, “What scares my most is the people who clapped.”
Monsoon told Ruhle that she has a message for LGBTQ people fearful in the current political climate. She advised them to “find their community” and to move to areas where they could.
Monsoon stated that there are some places where you can be queer or transgender, but there are also places where it is not. “It’s still being debated whether they should exist in certain areas of our country.
She continued, “We need your support to fight for our freedoms, liberties, and equalities.” “And if you need to move to a larger area to continue fighting for our freedoms and liberties and equalities, you know that you should do so. Find your community and keep yourself safe.
Ruhle responded, “Madame! You don’t just appear — you shine!”
