Drag shows banned at raft of Texas Universities after Trump DEI order

On Friday, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, which oversees 11 universities across the state, passed a resolution banning drag shows from all its facilities that are open to the public and “involve sexualized, vulgar or lewd conduct.”

It concluded these “are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women,” contrary to anti-discrimination legislation.

Newsweek contacted the Texas A&M University System for comment on Saturday outside of regular office hours.

Why It Matters

Over the past few years, drag performances have attracted the ire of some conservatives, who argue they are demeaning to women and promote transgenderism. In 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and policies in higher education institutions across the state.

Since Donald Trump‘s second inauguration on January 20, the backlash against the transgender movement has gone national, with the president signing an executive order banning most transgender people from the military, though this is facing legal challenge.

Trump also approved an executive order instructing federal agencies to terminate any “equity-related” contracts or grants.

What To Know

The motion passed by the board said it is “inconsistent with the System’s mission and core values” to allow “drag shows that involve biological males dressing in women’s clothing” that are open to the public, demeaning to women or “involve sexualized, vulgar or lewd conduct.”

Out of the board members, all voted in favor of the motion except for Regent Mike Hernandez III, who abstained.

The motion said drag shows often “involve the mockery or objectification of women,” and said their performances “are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women contrary to System anti-discrimination policy and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX).”

It also claimed that hosting drag performances could “be considered promotion of gender ideology” in violation of Trump’s executive order, signed on January 20, entitled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”

The chancellors and presidents of the various Texas A&M University System institutions, including the flagship Texas A&M University, were instructed to “cancel any upcoming Drag Show Events” and change their venue policy to comply with the motion.

This will include the annual King/Queen of Draggieland performance, which is organized by the student-run Queer Empowerment Council and held at the Rudder Theatre on campus.

What People Are Saying

The resolution passed by the Texas A&M University System board said they find “that it is inconsistent with the System’s mission and core values of its Universities, including the value of respect for others, to allow Special Event Venues of the Universities to be used for drag shows that involve biological males dressing in women’s clothing, wearing exaggerated female make up and/or exaggerated prosthetics meant to parody the female body type, and that are: open to the public, involve sexualized, vulgar or lewd conduct and involve conduct that demeans women (Drag Show Events).”

Speaking to The Houston Chronicle, Draggieland organizer Kelly Risch said: “It really was an awesome place where people could come and express themselves. It definitely draws the biggest audience out of any queer event here, and the fact that it happened on campus was a really big deal, because there’s really not a lot of similar events like that at that magnitude or scale.”

In a statement, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression argued the move violates First Amendment protections. They said: “Unfortunately, college administrators trying to suppress speech of students and faculty they don’t like is an all too common occurrence on college campuses.

“But the First Amendment stands in their way. Most of the time when these administrators have to go to court and they have to answer for violating the Constitution, these courts hold them accountable for doing that.”

What Happens Next

The University System Board of Regents motion is likely to face legal challenges, which is what happened in 2023 when West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler ordered the cancellation of a charity drag show.

It remains to be seen how the courts will react and whether the Trump administration will attempt to impose similar rules on a federal basis.