In an interview with MSNBC's The 11th Hour With Stephanie Ruhle, Jinkx Monsoon doubled down on her denunciation of the Republican-led legislative push to restrict drag performances. What do you want to say to the people who are trying to oppress my community right now, look what has happened every time you try to oppress a community in America, Monsoon told Ruhle. You tried to oppress women, but women got the vote. You tried to oppress people of color, but we are not accepting that anymore. She said that we are not accepting that some citizens just have to sit on the outside and be the outliers of our society, because that is not what this country was founded on. The legislation that would restrict drag performances has been proposed by lawmakers in at least 16 states this year, according to an analysis by the NBC News. The bills would ban the performances in the presence of minors and fine repeat violators thousands of dollars. Some would ban the art form in public and send repeat violators to prison.
This month Tennessee became the first state to enact such legislation, banning adult cabaret entertainment on public property or in locations where it can be seen by minors. A person who violates 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.
Monsoon, who is currently playing the role of Matron Mama Morton in Broadway s Chicago, won season five of RuPaul's Drag Race and season seven of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. She speculated that the recent wave of anti-drag legislation is a response to the fear of shifting gender norms in America.
She said that we have been conditioned to believe that there is a 'right' and 'wrong' way to do things and that there is a 'natural' and an 'unnatural' way to do things. Imagine how infuriating it would be if you spent your whole life following the rules and then being told that rules don't actually exist. She said we should be told that whatever works for you is natural and normal and right. Monsoon, who uses them pronouns when not in drag, addressed a controversial speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference this month, where a speaker said that transgenderism must be completely eradicated from public life. She said the speaker's remark wasn't what scared her most.
She said that the people who clapped for it scare me more.
When asked by Ruhle what her message is for LGBTQ people who are frightened by this 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, or a drag queen or trans at any age, and there are places in this country where it is not, Monsoon said. They're still debating whether we deserve to exist in certain parts of our country. She said we need you with us to keep fighting for our freedoms and liberties and equalities. If you have to move to a more metropolitan area, until the rest of the country catches up, do what it takes to keep yourself safe and find your community so that you can live your life truthfully and unapologetically. To that, Ruhle replied, Madame, you don't just exist - you shine.