Drag icon RuPaul has opened up about the dangerous rise of anti-drag protests in a new interview. Over the last year, conservative politicians and anti-LGBTQ+ hate groups have targeted the drag community with hateful rhetoric regarding family-friendly events, like Drag Queen Story Hour.
Due to the increase of anti-drag hate across the United States, queer clubs and gatherings have been subjected to protests, threats and violence from bigoted individuals and organisations.
According to a report from GLAAD, there have been at least 124 incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ protests and threats in 2022 across 47 states, with the highest taking place in Texas and North Carolina.
At the time of the report’s release, the tragic mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs was not included due to the motive not being formally declared.