'Drag Queen Christmas' event on Tuesday in Amarillo drawing political ire

A “Drag Queen Christmas” event scheduled for one performance Tuesday evening at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts is set to go on, with some local leaders and organizations sharing concerns while advocates argue it promotes inclusion.

Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson weighed in on the show, sharing a letter after hearing concerns from citizens and some church leaders, explaining the city's role in booking public events at its venues.

In the letter, Nelson states that the city did not recruit the event, which is being catered to children and adults alike. Like all events booked at the facility, the promoter met all the same requirements that every other event must face to use the facility.

“I share the concerns expressed by citizens about the possible messages and content of the show," Nelson stated in the letter. “However, the city cannot refuse to lease a public facility to a person or group based on the event's content. As long as the content does not violate any law or local ordinance, the city cannot restrict or police the content due to free speech rights.”

Nelson wrote that she had been asked if citizens can organize a petition to stop the show from happening, and she said that while it is their free speech right to create a petition, it does not change the laws protecting the right of the people to have the show and having access to the city venue.

More:Donut shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, becomes victim of arson days after hosting drag art show

Also addressed in the mayor's letter was a request for the city to place an age limit for those attending the show. Nelson said the city does not set age limits or police the content of events at its venues.

"I ask your help in communicating this information to any person in our community that has questions or concerns about this event," Nelson wrote. "I am praying that this event will give our city an opportunity to engage with people who do not know Jesus and do not share our beliefs. I pray that kindness and compassion will be attractive to them as they visit our city and that will lead to questions and curiosity about our belief. Most of all, I am praying for those who don’t know Jesus, or his grace will meet him in Amarillo and be changed forever. I hope you will pray with me for these things.”

Kevin Sparks, Texas State senator-elect for District 31, which represents the Amarillo area and much of the Texas Panhandle, addressed the show on his website, vowing to protect children in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January.

In the post, he cited concerns for the long-term well-being of children being exposed to these events and the erosion of family values he feels come from these events. He said he plans to work to pass a law that children are not allowed into these types of events.

Sparks wrote in his post: “We are called to love our neighbors and even those with whom we disagree, but there are certain moral principles that are not up for debate. We are required to protect children from any and all sexually explicit material. Protecting the innocent is one of the main functions of government and next session we are going to make sure that we just do that.”

U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, a Republican who represents the Panhandle and portions of north Texas, made multiple posts about the event on Twitter, criticizing the city and the event.

On Twitter, Jackson wrote, “I just learned there will be a drag show coming to Amarillo where YOUNG CHILDREN will be allowed and encouraged to attend,” said Jackson. “This is SICK. Children SHOULD NOT be allowed to attend events like this. This needs to be SHUT DOWN immediately!”

Jackson followed that up with a tweet about tax dollars and banning the show.

'Bullies aren't invincible': 'Bullies aren't invincible': Hero speaks out after stopping Colorado Springs mass shooter

"Tax dollars shouldn’t fund this in Amarillo or ANYWHERE!" Jackson said. "Shame on every Democrat for cheering-on these SICK people!!!! This needs to be banned NOW!!!"

The issue with many of the people and politicians asking for the show to be banned legally is that there is no restriction to minors being at an event with a person dressed in drag, nor is there a restriction for being around people dancing in drag. For instance, people of all ages are allowed into movies that have more mature content as long as a parent accompanies them, hence, the calling for that restriction being possibly legally tenuous.

Sam Burnett of the Amarillo Area Transgender Advocacy Group weighed in on the complaints from citizens about this show.

“My biggest thing is we have all of these people making comments, and I would like to know how many of them have actually been to a drag show to know what they are talking about,” Burnett said. "I also find it funny that we always have these men that are worried about sexualizing children, but the only people talking about sexualizing children are these men in congress.”

Burnett said there was no community meltdown over the recent R-rated magic show that happened Nov. 4 in Amarillo. He said there were no protests or letters to and from the mayor on that particular event. He said the hypocrisy to the reaction of an LGBTQIA+ event compared to that is quite apparent.

More:Amarillo Little Theatre shares holiday cheer for all to hear with 'Elf the Musical'

He also said these types of events would not be sexually explicit, nor would children be exposed to anything that they could not readily access on regular television.

Burnett expressed disappointment with the mayor’s letter, which suggested that people of faith would not attend this type of event or that they needed to be lectured on their faith. He said she should have ended the letter with the part about equal rights and freedom of speech rather than suggesting those attending are somehow doing something wrong.

He also said that after the Colorado Springs shooting at a gay club, he did not feel safe bringing his family to the event with all of the dangerous rhetoric that has been spread about it from politicians and religious groups.

“These groups and politicians should practice what the Bible teaches, because nowhere in that Bible does it tell them to judge people. What it tells them to do is to love people," Burnett said.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo 'Drag Queen Christmas' show in drawing political outcry