"Free Expression Means Everyone. No Exceptions.": Drag Artists Respond to Kennedy Center Takeover.
Washington, DC - Following President Trump's announcement that he would fire members of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees over drag performances, Qommittee, a national network of drag artists and allies, issued the following statement:
"Regardless of who you are, America is a place of free expression. No exceptions.
"We are being targeted because we're LGBTQ+. Period. This is about who gets to exist in public spaces and whose stories get to be told on America's stage. We've seen our community face bomb threats, armed protests, and mass shootings. But we've also seen how communities from coast to coast stand up for art and inclusion when given the chance. We're not going anywhere.
"Banning an entire art form is censorship, plain and simple. Americans don't have to agree on everything, but we should be able to speak our minds and perform our art without bans, retaliation, or intimidation.
"Drag is joy. It's beauty. It helps people find themselves and celebrates difference. We applaud the Kennedy Center staff and board who have recognized that over the years and thank them for providing a space in the Nation's Capital where all people can be themselves."
About Qommittee: Launched in June 2024, Qommittee is a national network of drag artists working to stop hate, defend free expression, and help performers thrive. Our coalition includes survivors of mass shootings at Club Q and Pulse nightclub, artists who faced church firebombing in Ohio, and performers targeted by power grid attacks in North Carolina. Through rapid response support, community organizing, and economic justice initiatives, we help transform threats into opportunities for community celebration and power building. Learn more at www.qommittee.org.
