If you pay attention to the news, you know there鈥檚 a disturbing trend in American politics right now: anti-drag and trans legislation. Bills in Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia are threatening to either prohibit or profoundly affect drag performances鈥攚here and if they can take place鈥攊n a coordinated effort looking to falsely define non-traditional gender expression as harmful and dangerous. The measures are all direct attacks on the LGBTQ community, but they鈥檙e also likely to affect theatre fans and professionals alike.
Though much of this legislation seems to aim directly at banning drag performances, commentary from lawmakers has made it clear that the real target are the trans and non-binary communities鈥攁nyone who expresses their gender in a so-called 鈥渘on-traditional鈥� way.
Theatre is indelibly linked to queer people and has been for most of its existence. For decades, queer people have found safety, home, and community in the theatre, whether as a worker in the industry or even just as a theatre fan. Queer stories, characters, and writers have made some of the most popular plays and musicals in the canon, to not even mention non-queer shows with drag characters like Hairspray, Chicago, and Matilda. But many theatre artists have cautioned that the bans on drag performances that have been made law in Tennessee and Texas, and is currently being considered in other state houses, could prevent theatres from doing certain shows at all.
It鈥檚 currently unclear just how鈥攐r if鈥攖hese pieces of legislation will affect queer theatre artists. Tennessee鈥檚 law was recently blocked by a federal judge, indicating there may be hope that courts will successfully show these bills are discriminatory and unconstitutional. But at least in the short-term, it seems likely this legislative wave will hurt almost everyone who makes and enjoys theatre. Even beyond enacting laws, the rhetoric fans the flames of anti-queer bigotry.
One of the organizations working hard to address this growing problem within the realm of theatre is actor and stage manager union Actors鈥� Equity Association. Leading the fight is the org鈥檚 Diversity and Equity Strategist Danee Conley, who (perhaps surprisingly as a representative for a labor union) says that focusing on the labor aspect of the issue is missing the point.
Conley says she鈥檚 seen a certain amount of discourse online from theatre fans that are seeing this legislative wave and are concerned about their ability to see shows like Rent and Hairspray, both of which include gender non-confirming characters, at their local theatres. 鈥淚 totally understand that these laws will impact the actual theatre that's being made, but people need to recognize that this is a huge safety concern for members who are trans and non-binary,鈥� emphasizes Conley.
As for what that means in terms of Equity鈥檚 work to protect its members, Conley says that right now, it鈥檚 usually a case-by-case situation that relies on members reporting problems and producers being willing to provide safety measures that might not already be in the standard acting contracts. That has led to Equity setting up measures like special transportation or establishing buddy systems within companies so members are never on their own in a location in which they might be vulnerable.
But Conley hopes the union鈥檚 systemic, big-picture work on the issue will help take the pressure off of the performers themselves. 鈥淲e try to focus on not putting the onus on vulnerable populations, to not require people to put their vulnerability on display,鈥� says Conley. That has led to moves like filing an amicus brief in the Western District of Tennessee in opposition to the anti-drag law, which was part of the successful fight to get the measure blocked.
The union also continually works to get EDI provisions written into all of their contracts. That last bit could be especially important in light of today鈥檚 Supreme Court ruling, which will allow businesses the right to refuse service to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Equity鈥檚 contractual provisions supersede even the Supreme Court for the producers and theatres that agree to their terms.
As Conley shares, 鈥渢he goal is that folks should be able to show up to work and feel safe, and not have to put in extra labor in order to just exist in the same way that other folks do.鈥�
Put another way, being a queer performer shouldn鈥檛 necessitate being an activist willing to be on the front lines.
But Conley says the union is very aware that activism is what is currently being asked of some performers right now, and that they鈥檙e proud and grateful for the actors who have stepped up to fight the fight. One of those brave actors is Jade McLeod, currently starring as Jo in the national tour of Jagged Little Pill. The gig puts McLeod just about as close to the front line as one can get. They鈥檙e non-binary themselves, and playing a queer character who鈥檚 also gender non-conforming. When we talked to McLeod a few weeks ago, they were preparing to take the Alanis Morissette jukebox musical to Florida, one of the most states that is most actively leading this anti-LGBTQIA+ legislative wave. Not only has Florida passed a law banning minor attending any show in which a drag queen is present, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law five other bills targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 incredible demoralizing,鈥� says McLeod. 鈥淚t鈥檚 scary to know a lot of people in power there think I shouldn鈥檛 exist. It鈥檚 terrifying to head into that and to be doing a show where I am so visible as a queer and non-binary person.鈥�
Within the first five minutes of the Alanis Morissette jukebox musical, the characters quip about Fox News鈥� biases, and McLeod鈥檚 character holds a sign reading, 鈥淏eing gay is like glitter. It never goes away.鈥� According to McLeod, having this material right at the top of the performance makes it clear what the audience is in for right from the jump.
鈥淚n some cities, responses have been tentative, but it lights a fire under my butt to work that much harder and be that much better, more charming and likeable,鈥� says McLeod. 鈥淚 need these people that have maybe never knowingly met a non-binary person in their life or shared space with them or loved them鈥擨 need them to see me as a person and I need them to fall in love with me, so that they can see other trans and non-binary people as people.鈥�
McLeod is getting at the tricky paradox they find themselves in. The most effective tool to combat the dehumanization of a marginalized community is by showing that humanity. Theatre is uniquely equipped to do that, but that also means McLeod is touring into areas that put them in real danger. Luckily, in this case, McLeod is surrounded by their entire Jagged Little Pill family, and they report always feeling safe. In fact, when the show was in Washington, D.C., the entire company traveled to the Capital to protest anti-trans legislation鈥擬cLeod held up a sign that said 鈥渢rans rights are human rights.鈥�
McLeod says it's also worthwhile traveling to these places because it allows the show to meet the most vulnerable population of all: the trans and non-binary communities that live where these pieces of legislation are being enacted. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been the best part, especially the young people that I meet that are trans and non-binary, or still figuring it out,鈥� shares McLeod of their stage door experiences on tour. 鈥淥n social media, there鈥檚 been a lot of people that reached out and are saying things like, 鈥業鈥檓 not out yet to my family, but you鈥檝e inspired me to come out to my best friend,鈥� or their sister, and so on and so forth.鈥�
Visibility is a powerful tool. Growing up any flavor of queer can be incredibly isolating and lonely鈥攂igots work hard to ensure that. Discovering happy, successful, vibrant queer communities is a kind of liberation that鈥檚 difficult to even fathom for people who aren鈥檛 queer. McLeod cites figures like Demi Lovato, Sam Smith, and Billy Porter as particularly influential in their own journey towards being openly non-binary鈥攂efore they even knew they were non-binary. 鈥淭hey were brave enough and free enough to express themselves as they are,鈥� reflects McLeod. 鈥淭hat resonated so strongly with me. And then I had a come-to-Jesus moment and realized it resonated because I also felt that way.鈥�
As a theatre fan, you may be wondering what you can do to help鈥攖o slow and reverse the spread of this dangerous legislation. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be shy about talking about these things,鈥� McLeod urges. 鈥淯se your voice, especially if you鈥檙e in a state that has these hateful people that are making these laws. Vote. But also let them know you don鈥檛 support what they鈥檙e doing.鈥�
For an easy way to contact your state governor, visit . Experts suggest introducing yourself and immediately indicating that you are a constituent, and then explain why you鈥檙e calling, highlighting a personal experience to strengthen your argument. Be ready with the title or number of the specific legislation you鈥檙e calling to oppose, which you can find at websites like . Following on Instagram is another way to keep current on quickly changing action plans. Needless to say, money is always helpful too. The is an excellent organization to consider supporting, along with the , , and , all of which work to provide legal services for low or no cost to the trans and non-binary communities.
Conley and her team at Actors鈥� Equity included these and several other tools in this that offers lots of actionable options for those looking to help.
But equally important is directly supporting the people these laws affect the most. 鈥淟et those people know that they鈥檙e safe with you, and that you love them. That they鈥檙e loved,鈥� McLeod suggests.
And they have their own message for trans and non-binary kids in these states: 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing wrong with you. You鈥檙e perfect as you are. Go forth and embrace it. If and when you鈥檙e in a position where you can come out safely, know that this side of that is beautiful. The more you can embrace your own truth, the easier your life is gonna get, the more loved you will feel.鈥�
As for those 鈥渉ateful people,鈥� McLeod knows what they鈥檇 say to them too. 鈥淚 would tell them about my dog,鈥� says McLeod. 鈥淎nd I would tell them about my mom, and the friends that I grew up with. I would try and make them laugh as much as I could. I would do my darndest to listen to them, ask stories about their life, relate to them and show them that I鈥檓 a person. I鈥檓 a human. I鈥檓 not the enemy. I鈥檓 not trying to hurt them or anybody that they care about.鈥�
