What’s Wrong With Drag Shows?

And why are politicians trying to outlaw and ban them?

Photo by Dave Soto on Unsplash

I am not a fan of drag shows.

As a mental health counselor, I see this behavior as a hybrid of several conditions identified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — The Paraphilia Transvestitism (cross-dressing), an almost-Paraphilia Exhibitionism (showing off in an erotic or sexually provocative way), and personality traits known as narcissism and histrionics (also pleasure from showing off in a theatrical manner). It doesn’t qualify as a mental illness, but it is strange in our culture, and it would not raise attention if not for the cross-dressing. After all, many of our most popular entertainers and heroes engage in all of those things except for the cross- dressing. I just find the cross-dressing weird, though I’m not sure that it’s any weirder than the showing-off, narcissism or histrionics.

However, I am disturbed by the fixation some of our politicians and other “conservatives” have, so obsessed with sex and gender issues that they make such a big deal about it, even trying to pass laws against it and punish people for it. They imagine it is a threat. What’s wrong with these people? Why is it such a big deal to them? Why do they imagine it is threatening? In my opinion, they have more of a problem with their mental health than drag queens, and they pose a much greater threat to us.

In Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis is establishing a dystopian fascist police state (his dream for the country), he is sending undercover police out to find law-breaking at drag shows to justify his punishing of venues that host these shows. Even though his police have found no evidence of wrong-doing, he is plunging ahead with a revocation of Orlando’s Plaza Live Theater liquor license which will probably put them out of business. In Florida, if you dare defy DeSantis, whether you are a teacher, school board member, College or hospital trying to protect the public, you’ll be in a world of pain. If you get on DeSantis’ sh-t list, you’ll get fired or put out of business. He delights in ruining careers, lives and communities. He is one dangerous man.

All over the country, a slew of states, fourteen so far, are set to pass anti-drag laws, from bans to tight regulations…