A student LGBTQ+ organization is suing Texas A&M University over its newly adopted policy on its public campuses.
The federal lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of the Queer Empowerment Council, a coalition of student groups at Texas A&M University-College Station. The lawsuit aims to block the university from enforcing the policy, which the school鈥檚 Board of Regents unanimously approved last week.
The ban halts all drag performances on A&M鈥檚 11 public campuses, including the annual 鈥淒raggieland鈥� event, which has been held on the College Station campus since 2020.
In its , the Board of Regents deemed drag shows 鈥渋nconsistent with the system鈥檚 mission and core values,鈥� arguing that the performances 鈥渋nvolve conduct that demeans women鈥� and could create a 鈥渉ostile environment.鈥�
Attorneys with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the organization representing the student coalition, argue that the ban constitutes unconstitutional censorship.
鈥淧ublic universities can鈥檛 shut down student expression simply because the administration doesn鈥檛 like the 鈥榠deology鈥� or finds the expression 鈥榙emeaning,鈥欌�� said FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 true not only of drag performances, but also religion, COVID, race, politics, and countless other topics where campus officials are too often eager to silence dissent.鈥�
Opponents of the drag ban have planned an on-campus 鈥淒ay of Drag鈥� protest for Thursday and say they remain committed to holding Draggieland, even if forced to move it off-campus.
鈥淒rag is self-expression, drag is discovery, drag is empowerment, and no amount of censorship will silence us,鈥� read a statement from the Queer Empowerment Council. 鈥淲e are committed to ensuring that our voices are heard, and that Draggieland will go on, no matter the obstacles we face.鈥�
