TEXAS — A report published on Dec. 16 by GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, found that in 2022 there were at least 141 incidents which involved anti-LGBTQ protests and threats made to specific drag events across the country. Texas had the most at 20.

What You Need To Know

  • A new report from GLAAD found there were at least 141 incidents involving anti-LGBTQ protests and threats made to specific drag shows across the country in 2022

  • The report identifies Texas as having the most such incidents at 20 

  • GLAAD said many of the threats and protests were precipitated by reports from media outlets including Fox News and the Daily Wire 

  • One such incident took place recently in San Antonio. A spokesperson for the group protesting a drag show told Spectrum News they were only there because the show wasn't appropriate for children 

GLAAD reported those incidents involved Pride festivities as well as “false rhetoric against performers deployed in campaign ads for the midterm elections."

Following Texas, the states with the most reported incidents are North Carolina with 10, Illinois with eight, Tennessee with six, California with six, and Georgia with five.

GLAAD said many of the threats and protests were precipitated by reports from media outlets including Fox News and the Daily Wire and right-wing social media accounts including LibsOfTikTok.

“The outlets and accounts often misrepresented what would occur at upcoming drag events, spinning them as harmful to children, and protests or threats would follow. A Media Matters report from June found that Fox News had devoted more hours to targeting drag queens and transgender people than to coverage of the January 6th insurrection hearings,” the report says.

Among the Texas incidents mentioned in the GLAAD report is a recent protest and counter-protest that took place at the Aztec Theatre in San Antonio. Members of This is Texas Freedom Force protested a drag show at the theater. LGBTQ advocates outnumbered them. Both groups had armed members.

Spectrum News was at the protest and spoke to members of Texas Freedom Force who said they were merely protesting because the show, “A Drag Queen Christmas,” wasn’t appropriate for children.

“We understand the LGBT has their rights to be whoever they are, and that’s fine. They do whatever they want,” Texas Freedom Force Vice President Ramon Garza said. “We’re just saying children shouldn’t be allowed in this type of entertainment.”

San Antonio police officers were on standby at the protest, but it didn’t escalate to violence.

GLAAD’s report additionally details some of the anti-drag legislation being drafted ahead of 2023, including a Texas bill that would ban minors from attending drag story hours and another one that would classify drag as a “sexually oriented business.”