After creating a “Queer Safe Space” for students earlier this year, the University of Texas at Arlington will continue promoting radical gender ideologies at a school-sponsored drag show later this month.
The show is advertised as the “main event” for UTA’s “LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride,” with drag queen Kiana Lee hosting. Additionally, the university will allow students to tip drag queens, with all funds going toward a scholarship set aside for LGBT students. UTA’s LGBTQ+ program and the Office for Cultural Engagement and Social Change are sponsoring the event.
Earlier this year, the LGBTQ+ program sponsored a “Queer Safe Space” in the university’s library for LGBT students to study, attend support groups, and read “queer books.” The group also provides workshops to help spread radical gender theory by training non-LGBT students to become “allies.” Various “Mavally” workshops instruct university students and faculty on changing from “ally to accomplice” and discuss pronouns, intersectionality, and privilege.
Similarly, the Office for Cultural Engagement and Social Change promotes “inclusive and equitable practices” through a Social Justice Peer Educator program. As “peer educators,” undergraduate and graduate students provide training on social justice to classes, staff meetings, and student groups.
The offered talks focus on “privilege,” “anti-racism,” and “entering the community and overcoming the savior complex.” Another workshop entitled “Undacally Training” teaches participants how to advocate for students who “identify as DACA or undocumented,” referring to former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for illegal aliens.
Earlier this month, the LGBT organization Campus Pride Index awarded the campus a full five stars for promoting “inclusive LGBTQ and ally policies, programs, and practices.” UTA’s Director of Student Advocacy Services, Jessica Sanchez, praised the ranking and promised to continue promoting radical gender ideologies on the campus.
“UTA leadership and campus partners have truly embraced the LGBTQ+ program’s vision of ensuring all Mavericks feel heard, seen, and recognized at UTA,” said Sanchez. “I am taking this moment to celebrate a major accomplishment, and then my team and I are getting back to work to create an even more inclusive Maverick community.”
In response to next week’s school-sanctioned drag show, student activist Carlos Turcios questioned if the university would prevent minors from attending. Although the show is a university event, non-UTA students can attend and advertisements for the drag show do not specify an age limit.
“Will taxpayers’ money be spent on this drag show?” asked Turcios. “Will this be 21+? Will you post that it’s 21+? My sister isn’t even 18 and attends UTA. Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t go to this event.”
The University of Texas at Arlington is a public university overseen by the University of Texas System’s Board of Regents. Led by Chairman Kevin Eltife, all members were appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott and confirmed by the Texas Senate.
