A drag queen Christmas tour has become an annual holiday tradition in Florida, and with it, a predictable wave of controversy. Now in its 11th year, “A Drag Queen Christmas,” featuring performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race, is set to perform in Pensacola on Tuesday night, despite efforts by state officials to cancel the show, labeling it an “anti-Christian” performance at a city-owned theater.
The state attorney general has spent nearly two months lobbying Pensacola officials to cancel the show, but the effort has been unsuccessful. Instead, the 1,600-capacity venue is sold out. “We can’t thank Pensacola enough for showing out and showing up. We’ll see you on December 23!” tour host Nina West expressed in a video posted to social media on Sunday.
Despite an anti-drag law that had been held up in court for years until last week, compounded by other anti-LGBTQ+ laws and attacks in the state, drag queens have continued to perform across Florida. These challenges have fostered a sense of unity within the community, as noted by Orlando drag organizer Violet Maldonado, who performs under the name Kissa Death. “I don’t think the community that’s here is ever gonna go anywhere, or go quietly into the night,” Maldonado stated.
Florida’s Complex History with LGBTQ+ Rights
Florida has a storied history as a home to LGBTQ+ communities, including in Pensacola. Local drag queen Edie Yacht highlighted that Pensacola’s LGBTQ+ history dates back to the 1950s with the Emma Jones Society, which hosted the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ gathering at the city’s beaches for nearly two decades. However, in recent years, under Governor Ron DeSantis, a wave of anti-queer and anti-trans sentiment has snowballed into a nationwide “drag panic.”
In 2023, Florida was one of several states to introduce 510 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Many of these laws focused on “protecting” young people from gender-affirming care, trans kids in sports, and preferred pronouns. Nearly 50 bills across the country targeted drag performances specifically.
“The anti-drag bills have dovetailed with intense attacks on drag performances, like neo-Nazi appearances outside ‘drag queen story hours,’” a Florida neo-Nazi remarked, noting that anti-drag sentiment has bolstered their numbers in 2023.
Legal and Social Battles Intensify
In 2022, the DeSantis administration investigated several Drag Queen Christmas stops in the state, citing Florida’s “lewdness” laws, and claiming venues were hosting “sexually explicit performances marketed to children” without evidence. Earlier that year, footage of a toddler attending a Florida drag brunch caught conservatives’ attention.
After DeSantis signed the “Protection of Children” drag ban into law in June 2023, a judge blocked its enforcement. US District Judge Gregory Presnell noted that the “statute is specifically designed to suppress the speech of drag queen performers.” The Supreme Court later refused to overrule the suspension of the law.
The controversy reignited when a Heritage Foundation staffer claimed “A Drag Queen Christmas” “mocked Christ” in a blog post. In September, local church members flooded a Pensacola city council meeting to denounce the drag event as offensive to Christianity. However, the Pensacola city council repeatedly declined to cancel the show, citing potential legal fees if the production company pursued litigation.
The Resilience of the Drag Community
Despite the political and social pushback, Florida remains a significant hub for modern drag. Five of the 14 queens in the upcoming season of RuPaul’s Drag Race hail from the state. Many Floridians emphasize that the backlash does not represent the state’s diverse residents.
Drag performances hold significant importance for young people. Jewels Sparkles, a current touring cast member and Drag Race season 17 runner-up, recalled attending the show as a high schooler. “I used to live in Miami, and my mom would drive me to the theater in Fort Lauderdale for the Christmas tour,” Sparkles told Out South Florida.
Orlando drag queen Jenda Envy, who began performing at age 17, noted that while she had a supportive home environment, many of her friends were scared by the political climate. Envy expressed that drag provided a sense of belonging and acceptance.
“Having a support system, mixed with creative expression, hard work, and ambition, is what I think is so beautiful about drag,” she said.
Community and Cultural Impact
Drag queens are deeply woven into the fabric of the larger Pensacola community. Recently, a drag show served as a Toys for Tots drive, with attendees required to bring a toy for entry. “I love doing benefit shows and helping people,” Edie Yacht shared. “If your chihuahua has cataracts and you need someone to perform to raise money for surgery, I’m all for that.”
Despite the legal challenges, performers like Yacht are determined to continue. “If we have to go back to the 1920s speakeasy way – but drag-focused – you will catch me in those bars performing,” she said.
Drag is not only an art form but also a lifeline for many community members, offering a safe haven from public condemnation. Violet Maldonado, after losing her day job partly due to her drag work, found solace in organizing an Orlando alternate drag event, the Gala of Ghouls, which helped her reconnect with the community.
“Fans have been at the heart of the pushback, too, by continuously showing up to what can sometimes be heavily protested or policed performances,” noted Pensacola resident Carson Wilber.
Future Outlook and Community Resilience
The national coalition Qommittee, comprised of drag performers, advocates, and allies, encourages people to continue attending drag shows as a form of resistance. “Show up, support performers, and tip generously,” the group stated. “If you’re a performer, don’t back down – keep performing, know your rights, and protect yourself.”
For those marginalized by society, drag remains a crucial community gathering place, offering respite from a hostile world and a reminder of the resilience of queer and trans people. “Drag is at the center of our community,” said Edie Yacht. “We’re like the royalty: we’re the ones who are seen first, heard first, and we speak up for our community.”
As the drag community in Florida continues to face political and social challenges, their determination and unity serve as a testament to their resilience and enduring cultural significance.
