RuPaul has sent out a forceful statement regarding the anti-drag legislation that is presently sweeping the United States.
Republican politicians have pushed not just to restrict drag performances in public places, but also to prohibit minors from attending drag shows.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, for example, signed legislation that effectively criminalises drag performances in the state.
RuPaul, 62, dubbed the law a “classic diversion method” in a dramatic video published on social media on Wednesday, pushing people to register to vote.
With an American flag behind him, the Emmy-winner said: ‘Hey, look over there! A classic distraction technique, distracting us away from the real issues that they were voted into office to focus on: jobs, healthcare, keeping our children safe from harm at their own school.’
The Drag Race host went on: ‘But we know that bullies are incompetent at solving real issues. They look for easy targets so they can give the impression of being effective.
‘They think our love, our light, our laughter and our joy are signs of weakness. But they’re wrong because that is our strength.’
He continued: ‘Drag queens are the Marines of the queer movement. Don’t get it twisted and don’t be distracted.
‘Register to vote so we can get these stunt queens out of office and put some smart people with real solutions into government.’
The star concluded: ‘And by the way, a social media post has never been as powerful as a registered vote.’
RuPaul’s video has already been seen over 229,000 times on Twitter at the time of writing.
According to the Tennessean, Lee’s measure makes “adult cabaret acts in public and in front of minors” illegal.
Cabaret includes ‘topless dancers, go-go dancers, exotic dancers, strippers, male or female impersonators’.
Critics of the measure have pointed out that it primarily targets trans and gender nonconforming persons.