MMAA is deeply troubled by the Department of Defense’s decision to ban drag shows and story hours at DoD facilities. We are concerned that censorship of LGBTQ-friendly events sends the message to LGBTQ+ members of the armed forces that wearing their preferred clothing or acting in a manner different from the gender assigned to them at birth is unacceptable. Anti-drag bills have been introduced in at least 14 states and passed in Tennessee, Texas, and Montana. LGBTQ+ service members and their families may face risks in states where they are stationed, by no choice of their own.
Anti-LGBTQ extremists are turning their attention to a new target - transgender Americans - their healthcare, access to public spaces, and the pronouns they use. This makes drag a target for those who inaccurately conflate being transgender to being a drag performer.
MMAA is collecting first-hand testimonials about how the DoD's ban on drag performances directly impacted you or how it made you feel as an LGBTQ+ member of the military community.
MMAA collects first-person stories as part of our advocacy agenda. Your story may be shared with the media, Congressional representatives, DoD officials, or on MMAA's social media platforms and publications to amplify the issue. You may choose to share your story anonymously.
