![]() For Dolly Parton, it's big, flashy costumes and the fact that you can continue to be a genuine and sweet Southern person and still be successful. Every room I walk into the story is about me." That's the full fantasy of drag. Miss Piggy, I think, is the big costumes, the "I am a movie star. On her drag persona, which is part Miss Piggy, part Dolly Parton and part Mr. "If somebody takes it upon themselves to silence my voice, there are many, many others to take my place. "I will not cow to intimidation and I won't be silenced," she says. She's vowed that Atomic Rose will continue all its shows - including its all-ages brunch - even after the ban goes into effect. ![]() Nevertheless, she's committed to standing her ground. Since speaking out against the Tennessee law she's received threats of violence and even death. someone's going to see me in Kroeger in a dress and call the cops and say, 'This person's being obscene in front of my kids,'" DuBalle says.ĭuBalle says she's always seen drag as a political act, but now the stakes are much higher. "As a non-binary person who wears clothing that does not necessarily match the gender that I was assigned at birth, I am fearful that. "I cannot succinctly put into words what the entire art of drag is, and the fact that these legislators who know far less about the art than I do and have never been to a drag show are sitting out there making these laws - that's a little upsetting."ĭuBalle points out that law's vague language - particularly the reference to "male and female impersonators" - could be misused to target trans, gender non-conforming or non-binary people. "The idea that they think that every drag performer is doing something hypersexual or obscene obviously means they don't know very much about it," DuBalle says. She says the Tennessee law was written by legislators who don't understand what drag is. Tennessee native Bella DuBalle is an ordained minister and also the show director and host at Atomic Rose, the largest drag club in Memphis. Subsequent violations could be felonies, punishable by up to 6 years in prison. The first offense for violating the law is a misdemeanor, with a fine up to $2,500 and/or up to 12 months in jail. The law, which refers to "male or female impersonators who provide entertainment that appeals to a prurient interest," makes it an offense for a person to engage in an adult cabaret performance on public property - or in a location where the performance could be viewed by children. Tennessee's new law criminalizing public drag performances goes into effect April 1.
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