«RuPaul’s Drag Race» star Jinkx Monsoon doubled down on his denunciation of the Republican-led legislative push to restrict drag performances in an interview that aired Friday on MSNBC’s «The 11th Hour With Stephanie Ruhle.»
“What I want to say to people who are trying to oppress my community right now is look at what happened every time they tried to oppress a community in the United States,” Monsoon told Ruhle. “You tried to oppress women, women got the vote. You tried to oppress people of color, we don’t accept that anymore.»
He added: «We’re not accepting that some citizens just have to sit outside and be the outliers of our society, because that’s not what this country was supposedly founded on.»
Lawmakers in at least 16 states have so far this year proposed legislation that would restrict drag performances, according to an NBC News analysis. Most of the bills would ban performances in the presence of minors and fine repeat offenders thousands of dollars. Some would ban the art form in public and send repeat offenders to prison.
This month, Tennessee became the first state to enact such legislation, banning «adult cabaret entertainment» on public property or in places where minors might view it. Artists who break the law more than once can be charged with a felony and sent to prison for up to six years.
Supporters argue that these measures are necessary to protect children from exposure to inappropriate entertainment.
Critics, like Monsoon, say these bills unfairly target the art form because of its deep ties to the LGBTQ community.
Currently playing the role of matron «Mama» Morton on Broadway’s «Chicago,» Monsoon won the fifth season of «RuPaul’s Drag Race» and the seventh season of «RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.» She speculated that the recent wave of anti-drag legislation is a response to «fear» of changing gender norms in the United States.
«We have been conditioned to believe that there is a ‘right’ and a ‘wrong’ way to do things and that there is a ‘natural’ and an ‘unnatural’ way to do things,» he said. «Imagine how irritating that would be.» If you spent your whole life following the rules and then were told that those rules don’t really exist.»
He added: «We should tell each other that whatever works for you is natural, normal and right.»
Monsoon, who identifies as non-binary and uses the pronouns they/them when not dressed, also addressed a controversial speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference this month, where a speaker said that «transgenderism must be eradicated completely.» of public life». speaker’s comment it wasn’t really what scared her the most.
«What scares me the most is the people who applauded,» he said.
Asked by Ruhle what his message is to LGBTQ people who are scared in the current political environment, Monsoon advised them to move to areas of the country where they can «find their community.»
“There are places where it is safe to be queer, drag queen or trans at any age, and there are places in this country where it is not,” Monsoon said. «I mean, they’re still debating whether we deserve to exist in certain parts of our country.»
«We need you with us to continue fighting for our freedoms and equalities,» he continued. «And if you have to move to a more metropolitan area, until the rest of the country catches up, you know, do whatever it takes to stay safe and find your community so you can live your life honestly and without apology. «.
To that, Ruhle replied, «Ma’am, you don’t just exist, you shine.»