In celebration of Pride Month, gay congressman for California’s 42nd congressional district, Robert Garcia, took to the house floor last week to give a speech honoring drag icon, Ru Paul.
Garcia told The Advocate that the purpose of his presentation was to honor pride month and to take a stand against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and threats of violence from lawmakers and far-right extremists and bigots.“Drag is an art form, and it’s also a uniquely LGBTQ+, queer art form,” Garcia said.
On the house floor, Garcia brought a poster board photo of RuPaul to display as he spoke. “RuPaul Charles has become an American phenomenon and an icon,” he said. “Nobody has more charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent than Charles.”
Garcia went on to discuss RuPaul’s career as the host of the award winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, a philanthropist, activist and “the one and only queen of drag.”
Garcia remains one of a handful of LGBTQ+ members of Congress and continues to ally himself with the community, swearing to protect and support drag queens as lawmakers and conservative Americans rage against them.
The Advocate reports “drag performances nationwide have become the target of violent anti-LGBTQ+ and far-right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys, neo-Nazis, and others.”
Republicans along with conservative school boards across the nation have been pushing for laws and rules that would curtail drag events and in turn leave drag queens with little or no work.
“So to attack drag is to attack artists within our community. The same artists, by the way, that have always stood up for the broader gay rights movement. [They are] the same artists that have led protests, led parades, fought for marriage equality, fought for equal rights at the workplace, [and] raised money during the HIV and AIDS crisis,” Garcia said.
