As aggressive protests of drag events occur across B.C. and North America, provincial politicians voiced support for the performers in B.C and condemned the violence that has been appearing at protests against drag events.
The NDP's Spencer Chandra-Herbert, who represents Vancouver's West End, brought forth a motion to support the performers and condemn the recent increase in aggression, intimidation and violence towards drag artists.
"I've moved this motion...because we've seen too much of this," he said in the legislature. "We've seen people targeted in their communities across B.C. and indeed across North America."
The motion comes at a time when drag performers reading to kids in particular has been the target of anti-drag protests, along with other events.
"You know, the things that those haters came to say was a horrible thing (that the performer) never should have done?" said Chandra-Herbert. "(The performer) read Itsy Bitsy Spider to children in a library. They read Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in a library."
"It seems so ridiculous that anyone would have a problem with that."
He noted in his speech that as a kid, like many kids, he liked to dress up in what could be considered drag, and that he was first exposed to drag in Shakespearean plays. Other MLAs who spoke on the issue also noted that drag has existed for centuries in theatre.
MLAs also noted that hate crimes, including hate crimes based on sexual or gender identity, are rising in Canada. Chandra-Herbert pointed to American states passing laws restricting or outlawing drag performances.
"I gotta say our neighbours just to the south of us seem to be having a great deal of problem with that and we're seeing it bleed across the border here, which is why we've got this motion here today," he said.
BC Liberal MLA Renee Merrifield from Kelowna was among those who spoke on the motion.
"These events have been plagued with intimidation and violence throughout B.C., in communities such as Nelson, Victoria, Vancouver, either having violence break out or forced to cancel them out of fear," she said. "No community should need to fear violence."
For West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Karin Kirkpatrick, also of the BC Liberals, "it just makes no sense to me."
"Drag performances has been an important part of our culture providing a platform for self expression, creative and activism,” she said. "We must address the underlying attitudes the fuel these attacks."
Richmond South Centre NDP MLA Henry Yao called on everyone to "come together and learn how to be an ally."
