Dave123
Well-Known Member
A Texas university president canceled a drag show on the school’s campus, citing his Christian faith in his reasoning.
“Does a drag show preserve a single thread of human dignity? I think not,” West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) President Walter Wendler wrote in an email to students which he later posted on his blog.
The university president went on to call drag shows offensive and demeaning to women.
“As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood. Any event which diminishes an individual or group through such representation is wrong.”
The drag show was intended to serve as a fundraiser for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit designed to help prevent suicide among individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
Wendler called this a “noble cause” but suggested the students “skip the show and send the dough.”
In his justification for canceling the show, Wendler compared these kinds of performances to blackface.
“Drag shows are derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny, no matter the stated intent,” the university president wrote. “Such conduct runs counter to the purpose of WT. A person or group should not attempt to elevate itself or a cause by mocking another person or group. 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.”
Wendler added that people deserve to be treated with dignity because they are made in the image of God.
read more at: https://www.toddstarnes.com/us/shocker-public-university-shuts-down-student-drag-show/
“Does a drag show preserve a single thread of human dignity? I think not,” West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) President Walter Wendler wrote in an email to students which he later posted on his blog.
The university president went on to call drag shows offensive and demeaning to women.
“As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood. Any event which diminishes an individual or group through such representation is wrong.”
The drag show was intended to serve as a fundraiser for The Trevor Project, a nonprofit designed to help prevent suicide among individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
Wendler called this a “noble cause” but suggested the students “skip the show and send the dough.”
In his justification for canceling the show, Wendler compared these kinds of performances to blackface.
“Drag shows are derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny, no matter the stated intent,” the university president wrote. “Such conduct runs counter to the purpose of WT. A person or group should not attempt to elevate itself or a cause by mocking another person or group. 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.”
Wendler added that people deserve to be treated with dignity because they are made in the image of God.
read more at: https://www.toddstarnes.com/us/shocker-public-university-shuts-down-student-drag-show/