Senator Hunt is Right On Drag Shows

Boundaries, Not Laws, Are the Answer

Update 2: Omaha World Herald published an essay from Gwenn Aspen regarding this topic (https://omaha.com/opinion/columnists/midlands-voices-the-fashion-police-are-coming-to-nebraska/article_24be9c6e-a645-11ed-be13-1bc0a1101fcc.html).

Update: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Also, Senator Kauth is right on gender mutilation (LB 574) and deserves support but look what the gender activists are doing (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/06/letter-signed-by-1500-people-urges-childrens-hospital-to-oppose-proposed-gender-care-ban)

LB 371 would supposedly ban minors from drag shows. I oppose the bill because it openly violates the First Amendment which protects the right of people to peacefully assemble and the right of freedom of expression. Nebraska State Senator Hunt, instead of stating the obvious, has horrifically mocked it with an anti-religious counter-proposal, and the alternative media has taken notice (https://notthebee.com/article/nebraska-democrat-proposes-banning-kids-from-vacation-bible-school-and-church-youth-groups-to-try-to-prove-some-kind-of-point-about-drag-shows).

Critics of these drag shows proclaim children are being “groomed” for sexual purposes. However, nearly all children will find such shows to be freak shows and disregard them as merely funny or odd. Of course, no child should be forced or compelled to attend such shows. However, for the most part, these shows are mostly of entertainment value.

As for the gender activists, they are abusing the traditions of the performing arts and are mischaracterizing and abusing drag. In fact, many of the performances of today are just plain blatantly vulgar and disregard the art as it was supposed to be. Yes, parents should have the ultimate authority regarding what their children see. Basic boundaries matter. Social conservatives must push to state: if there are going to be drag shows and the show is vulgar, minors must be barred. Otherwise, let tolerance rule the day.

Every generation of parents becomes frustrated and alarmed at how to address and approach sexual matters regarding their children and fears their child’s mind will be debauched and deflowered. However, do not buy into this “grooming” talk. Too often the claim of grooming merely demonizes normal behavior or inappropriate but legal behavior and ruins important interactions between adults and children. Yes, boundaries are important. Clothes are important. Rules are important. There are signs saying “no trespass”, and“keep off the grass” and restrooms are individually labeled for men and women. And with kids and their caretakers, sometimes you have to state the obvious such as “keep the private parts, private”.

Caution to my fellow social conservatives, your children have probably already been exposed to some form of drag. At Christmas, many places have "Santa Claus" to greet children and parents. Somewhere a middle-aged woman with a love of tobacco and being 50-plus pounds overweight can make for a very convincing Santa with a bass voice. Are we now going to arrest her?

At all-boys schools or all-girls schools, merely doing a play about the manger in Bethlehem at Christmas can be complicated. What boy does Mary and what girl does Joseph? Oh, but it is Christmas. But do you think a law is going to stop at mere drag shows?

In movies, the gender crossover is common. Many women have played Peter Pan such as Mary Martin. Linda Hunt played a man in The Year of Living Dangerously. Also, what about Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie or Robin Williams in Mrs.Doubtfire? Oh, and what about Rudy Gulliani and Trump? Take a look for yourself

People enjoyed the entertainment. They did not seek gender transitioning, nor did they fall for it.

I am sorry if some are disheartened by this essay. However, as a social conservative, there must be unity against gender mutilation of minors who will be made sterile by such processes. I genuinely fear this dispute over drag shows will distract conservatives from confronting the worst aspects of gender activists.