‘Child-friendly’ Drag Show at Dallas Gay Bar Prompts State Lawmaker to Act

As footage from a Dallas gay bar’s “Drag the Kids to Pride” event swept across social media this past weekend, State Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royse City) announced his plans Monday to “file legislation protecting kids from drag shows and other inappropriate displays as soon as the next legislative session begins.”

“Drag shows are no place for a child,” said Slaton.

The drag queen show at Mr. Misster’s bar and club was marketed to families as part of a celebration of pride month. However, as scantily clad drag queens danced provocatively up the aisle in front a large sign that read “It’s not gonna lick itself,” they accepted dollar bills from clapping children seated at the bar.

Children were then invited onstage to walk with the drag queens.

“The events of this past weekend were horrifying and show a disturbing trend in which perverted adults are obsessed with sexualizing young children,” said Rep. Slaton.

“As a father of two young children, I would never take my children to a drag show. And I know Speaker Dade Phelan and the rest of my Republican colleagues wouldn’t either. Protecting our own children isn’t enough, and our responsibility as lawmakers extends to the sexualization that is happening across Texas.”

Meanwhile, outside of the bar, concerned parents and community members protested the event and were met with vitriol and assaulted by counter-protestors.

One drag queen interviewed after the event said he hopes the event will inspire more children to participate in drag.

“I promised my voters that I would stand up for their values and fight to protect Texas kids,” said Slaton. “I was re-elected on that promise, and I intend to keep it by authoring legislation to defend kids from being subjected to drag shows and other inappropriate events. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation.”

Florida State Rep. Anthony Sabatini is already calling on Florida lawmakers to follow Slaton’s lead and ban inappropriate displays in front of minors.

Meanwhile, Mr. Misster’s confirmed they would be holding another “Drag the Kids to Pride” event soon.

Pro-family organization American Principles Project – Texas responded to the event, stating, “This didn’t happen in California. It didn’t happen in Portland, Oregon. It happened right here in the state of Texas. The question: What are our state’s “Republican” leaders going to do about it?”

Slaton’s response?

“We’re going to stop it.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has yet to respond to the events in Dallas this weekend.

Sydnie Henry

A born and bred Texan, Sydnie serves as the Managing Editor for Texas Scorecard. She graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A. in Government and is utilizing her research and writing skills to spread truth to Texans.