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Monday, January 30, 2023
Actors' Equity Condemns Political Attacks Against Drag and Trans Performers
Playbill: Theatrical union Actors' Equity, which represents actors and stage managers on Broadway and other professional stages across the country, has released a statement condemning recent political attacks aimed at trans and drag performers.
I am shocked at Senate Bill 43, as I had no idea that this was happening. I am concerned for the future of theatre across the country. Even though this has only come into effect in Arkansas it is still debilitating to the theatre industry and unjustly treating trans and drag performers. I believe that drag performances and representing trans performers in all forms of art are essential to helping our communities learn and grow. I also find it super important for younger generations to learn to be okay with who they are and not be afraid to express themselves. This bill will prevent younger generations from learning this important, and it will also attack trans performers and their careers around the globe. I agree with this article when it states that this is a humanitarian crisis. This decision will ultimately lead to nothing good for the theatre community and will continue to make the lives of drag and trans performers and people unbearable. I will continue to learn about this Bill and hope that this Bill does not get approved in the Senate.
Recent political attacks aimed at trans and drag performers have made me really upset. I think there’s so much of an art form behind drag and a lot of people eXpress themselves, and there’s a lot of expression through that in theater. The fact that they’re trying to ban musicals, such as kinky boots and hairspray because of drag characters is really irritating. Also, the fact that these drag performers Are putting their lives on the line now because of these threats. Being from Florida, even being home for just a few days, there were multiple protests around us, whether it be pro and against. In this article, they talked a lot about how gender identity is expressed through drag for a lot of people. That’s how they expressed themselves and the fact that they can’t even have a safe space in the theater or just in general is very upsetting.
As a transgender theatrical artist, it is not at all surprising to hear that there are once again more attacks against transgenderism within the public eye. There is always a societal “other” throughout human history, and especially American history; parties attempt to sway the public's opinions by creating a problem out of something that was never a problem before, and focusing an extreme amount of attention towards that topic as opposed to important ones such as poverty, homelessness, etc. Even now we see this with Donald Trump announcing his running for president in 2024, releasing a big recording about how he will stop gender-affirming care for all ages, regardless of whether or not they are already being treated, are a consenting adult, etc. Overall, there will never not be a time where some group will be politically attacked; it is sad to see that transgender people and drag queens are getting the short end of the stick right now, but all we can do is fight against legislation aiming to hurt these groups, and try to educate the masses about these topics in a hopes to vote out the political figures instituting these policies in the first place.
3 comments:
I am shocked at Senate Bill 43, as I had no idea that this was happening. I am concerned for the future of theatre across the country. Even though this has only come into effect in Arkansas it is still debilitating to the theatre industry and unjustly treating trans and drag performers. I believe that drag performances and representing trans performers in all forms of art are essential to helping our communities learn and grow. I also find it super important for younger generations to learn to be okay with who they are and not be afraid to express themselves. This bill will prevent younger generations from learning this important, and it will also attack trans performers and their careers around the globe. I agree with this article when it states that this is a humanitarian crisis. This decision will ultimately lead to nothing good for the theatre community and will continue to make the lives of drag and trans performers and people unbearable. I will continue to learn about this Bill and hope that this Bill does not get approved in the Senate.
Recent political attacks aimed at trans and drag performers have made me really upset. I think there’s so much of an art form behind drag and a lot of people eXpress themselves, and there’s a lot of expression through that in theater. The fact that they’re trying to ban musicals, such as kinky boots and hairspray because of drag characters is really irritating. Also, the fact that these drag performers Are putting their lives on the line now because of these threats. Being from Florida, even being home for just a few days, there were multiple protests around us, whether it be pro and against. In this article, they talked a lot about how gender identity is expressed through drag for a lot of people. That’s how they expressed themselves and the fact that they can’t even have a safe space in the theater or just in general is very upsetting.
As a transgender theatrical artist, it is not at all surprising to hear that there are once again more attacks against transgenderism within the public eye. There is always a societal “other” throughout human history, and especially American history; parties attempt to sway the public's opinions by creating a problem out of something that was never a problem before, and focusing an extreme amount of attention towards that topic as opposed to important ones such as poverty, homelessness, etc. Even now we see this with Donald Trump announcing his running for president in 2024, releasing a big recording about how he will stop gender-affirming care for all ages, regardless of whether or not they are already being treated, are a consenting adult, etc. Overall, there will never not be a time where some group will be politically attacked; it is sad to see that transgender people and drag queens are getting the short end of the stick right now, but all we can do is fight against legislation aiming to hurt these groups, and try to educate the masses about these topics in a hopes to vote out the political figures instituting these policies in the first place.
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