The Texas Tribune reports:
West Texas A&M President Walter Wendler is drawing ire for canceling a student drag show, arguing that such performances degrade women and are “derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny.”
Wendler said drag shows “stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood” in a Monday letter. Wendler said the drag show was organized to raise money for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that works to reduce suicides in the LGBTQ community.
Wendler noted that it is a “noble cause” but argued the shows would be considered an act of workplace prejudice because they make fun of women.
My High Plains reports:
Wendler said in the letter that he believes drag shows do not preserve “a single thread of human dignity.”
“As a university president, I would not support ‘blackface’ performances on our campus, even if told the performance is a form of free speech or intended as humor. It is wrong. I do not support any show, performance or artistic expression which denigrates others—in this case, women—for any reason.”
“Supporting The Trevor Project is a good idea. My recommendation is to skip the show and send the dough. Offering respect, not ridicule, is the order of the day for fair play and is the WT way. And equally important, it is the West Texas way.”
West Texas A&M University’s president canceled a student drag show, saying it degrades women.
Students say he mischaracterizes drag as a culture and art form. They plan to protest. First Amendment lawyers say drag is protected free speech. https://t.co/mKO7UjZgK5
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) March 21, 2023
THANK YOU to President Walter Wendler for his leadership and for not allowing drag shows to DISGRACE the campus of West Texas A&M University. These lewd “performances” are divisive & degrading. They DO NOT belong on campus!! https://t.co/PUhFr56a7e
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJacksonTX) March 21, 2023
FIRE’s Alex Morey: “Someone bring this man some smelling salts and a copy of the Constitution. Students have a well-established First Amendment right to organize campus drag shows and FIRE will be making sure Mr. Wendler promptly sashays out of their way. ?”
— FIRE (@TheFIREorg) March 21, 2023