Celebs across the nation have been weighing in and speaking out for weeks about North Carolina’s new anti-LGBT bill, which prohibits trans people from using the bathroom of their choosing. And while most of those celebs have been only been allies, real LGBT stars and activists from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” recently weighed in on the matter and spoke out for the trans community.
As previously reported, anti-LGBT House Bill 2 was passed by Governor Pat McCrory in North Carolina in late March and blocked the entire state from enacting nondiscrimination ordinances designed to protect LGBT people. This also includes a recent bill passed in Charlotte that would have allowed transgender people to use bathrooms that match their gender identity.
Since the bill’s inception, celebs like Beyoncé and former NFL star Brendon Ayanbadejo have spoken out against it. Most recently, President Obama’s administration announced that they plan to use Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities, as a means to at least fight for bathroom and locker-room protections for trans students.
Now, several notable queens from “Drag Race,” including Violet Chachki, Sharon Needles, Adore Delano, Pearl, Alaska, Miss Fame, Phi Phi O’Hara, and Courtney Act, recently came together while on the “Battle of the Seasons” tour and posted a photograph and message denouncing the bill and sharing their support for transgender rights.
“Statement from the artists of RuPaulBOTS: “Amidst the controversy in #northcarolina we are excited to be performing in #Charlotte and #Durham as a visible celebration of the #LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Our shows are a safe space where #transgender people and people of all genders, sexualities, ages and races can feel free to be themselves, be celebrated, and use the #bathroom of their #gender. As a statement we will have a #genderneutral bathroom for the evening! It’s important to us to do these shows and be visible, raise awareness and contribute to the amazing efforts of @equalitync @wearehrc and the local community, in making sure North Carolina gets back on the right side of history. We offer our support and voices to the transgender community of North Carolina, we know you are equal and we will not settle for anything less than the state recognizing and mandating this. To the transgender and gender diverse people in our audience and of North Carolina, we love you, we are you, we support you and we stand with you. The last few years have seen amazing visibility for transgender people, and now it’s time to turn that visibility into rights,” read the caption.
Kudos to these queens for standing up for trans rights and we hope other celebs do the same.
