CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A newly proposed North Carolina bill would make it illegal to perform a drag show in public or where a minor could see it.
The drag bill, filed Tuesday, would group some “male or female impersonators" with exotic dancers and strippers under state law, prohibiting them from performing on public property or in the presence of minors.
Performers could face felony charges after the first offense.
Republicans have filed a flood of other bills targeting gender identity. Another proposed law would be prohibiting transgender student-athletes from participating in sports that correspond with their gender identity under a bill that advanced Tuesday in the North Carolina Senate.
The sports proposal is among the first to advance through committee after Republicans returned from spring recess this week with newly veto-proof margins — made possible by Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham’s recent switch from Democrat to Republican. The gain essentially eliminates the need for Republicans to pull in a Democrat to override any veto from Gov. Roy Cooper, giving them a clear path to further similar LGBTQ+ restrictions passed by other states that hadn't previously gained traction in North Carolina.
LGBTQ+ rights advocates say these GOP-backed bills, and hundreds more across the U.S., are anti-trans attacks disguised as protections for children, which use trans people as political pawns to galvanize GOP voters ahead of an election year.
Under the proposed legislation restricting drag shows, anyone who performs in a drag show in public could potentially be arrested and charged with a crime, under House Bill 673 proposed by North Carolina Republican lawmakers Tuesday.
Conservatives nationwide have recently galvanized around criticism of drag shows, with armed militia groups sometimes showing up to performances. Drag brunches are popular at some restaurants.
Other types of performances have also sprung up in recent years, like libraries hosting events where people in drag read books to a crowd.
An ambassador for the North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition told WCNC Charlotte he supports the bill because it protects children from being exposed to inappropriate performances in general.
"We would not support any person that was wanting to dance or expose themselves no matter what gender they are in front of a child or in a public environment," Paul Brintley said. "So, we're not, you know, trying to pick out any community in this.”
House Bill 673 would lump at least some drag performances — what the bill calls "male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest" — in with strippers and other adult entertainers in state law.
The wording is confusing to advocates including drag queen Erica Chanel. She told WCNC Charlotte she's concerned the vagueness of the wording would mean she couldn't be in public at all when dressed in drag.
On the way to a performance, "what if I had to stop at a gas station?" Chanel asked. "Am I able to get out of the car to pump the gas or go in? Or is that going to be considered me being out in public?"
Chanel worries the bill could lead to canceling Pride events, drag brunches, and ultimately, she doesn't know where the line would be drawn to protect the drag community.
On Saturday, the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce will hold an emergency community meeting at Carolina E-sports Hub to discuss anti-LGBTQ legislation in North Carolina. You can find more information about the meeting here.
WRAL and the Associated Press contributed to this report
Flashpoint is a weekly in-depth look at politics in Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond with host Ben Thompson. Listen to the podcast weekly.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Stitcher || Google Podcasts
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.