The Tuesday, Jan. 24, regular meeting of the Bellefontaine City Council again featured a large, standing-room-only contingent of residents and advocates with strong feelings about a drag queen’s participation in the downtown Christmas parade.
This time, however, it was the participants and allies that had their say.
Over a dozen speakers — 17 by the council’s count — addressed city council during the meeting with arguments ranging from religious to Consititutional for why the city’s elected leaders should not take any actions to prohibit drag queens or any other LGBTQ+ participation in community gatherings, parades or celebrations.
Several of the speakers during Tuesday’s meeting were out-of-town advocates, while others were lifelong residents and allies.
Some who spoke were born in Bellefontaine and moved to other municipalities when they became adults because they said they weren’t accepted, included or loved in their hometown. Other speakers grew up elsewhere, but moved to Bellefontaine and now participate in the community because of its small-town roots and feelings of togetherness.
A few were actual drag queens.
Collectively, they made a case for inclusion, love and acceptance for all people regardless of sexual orientation or interest in dressing up in clothes traditionally worn by another gender.
The drag queen that appeared in the downtown Bellefontaine Christmas parade was not provocatively dressed, some pointed out.
Others argued that dressing in drag is a “form of artistic expression,” with nothing inherently sexual about it. Such artistic expression, they said, is a speech protected by the First Amendment.
Some of the attendees who addressed council made religious arguments. They were members of churches and participated in its leadership. They were fearfully and wonderfully made, they said, and the love of Jesus is not confined to sexual orientation or an individual’s preference to dress in drag.
Former councilwoman Diane Hager spoke in opposition to drag queens’ appearing in community events. She presented council with a news article detailing efforts in the state of Arkansas to label drag shows as “adult entertainment.” Such a label would liken drag queen appearances or drag shows to sexually-oriented material or activities and would allow council to prohibit them in public areas or where they could be viewed by minors.
The issue is expected to be discussed in a meeting of council’s rules committee. Council has not yet discussed the topic or offered a public statement on the matter.