Another week, another Pride POV. As you all know, we’re discussing stories directly from members of the LGBTQ+ community this month and highlighting some of the issues/policies put in place against them. Our goal is to shine the spotlight on the community as members, allies, and supporters to rally together and make a change for the greater good.

Drag bans are a serious downer, and it doesn’t seem like they’re stopping anytime soon. That’s why we chatted with Cya Inhale (she/her), a drag queen based in Nashville. Since beginning her journey as a performer, Cya has had the opportunity to show her talents in crowd-filled stadiums, and has even performed with one of our faves, Lizzo.

But despite having a successful career, she’s facing her slowest Pride Month yet. Advertisers are actively choosing to step away from working with drag queens during a time where they should be celebrated. And, as a drag queen in Tennessee, she’s dealing with bigger challenges from legislators attempting to ban drag performances throughout the entire state. Here, she tells us how we can help support drag queens at a time where they need it most.
 

How did you get started in drag?
I started doing drag my sophomore year of high school. I went to Catholic school, so crossdressing wasn’t the most popular activity for a teenage boy, but even so, I persisted. I fell in love with drag almost immediately. I did drag for two years in my bedroom until I turned 18. A month after my 18th birthday, I performed for the first time in drag. After that night, I decided not to go to college like I had planned my entire life, instead I would go to hair school so I could further focus on drag. At that point I had given up a lot to make drag work as a career for me, so I did everything I could to make it work. I tried to make my drag as marketable as possible, and go out and shake as many hands as I could. Eventually I made a name for myself and found work in the gay scene in Nashville.

Fast forward to today: Tennessee has this new (horrific) anti-drag law affecting drag queens and drag clubs across the state. How has this impacted you and your career?
For a large majority of my career, my work depends on me partnering with local venues and producing shows. Since November of 2022, places have been much more reluctant to have drag in their space. A conversation of the legality of the show is now an expected question when putting on a show, and I’m expected to have all of the answers. I would have to say to them, “Yes, my community is being attacked, and no, I’m not dressed obscenely in my seven pairs of tights, a couch cushion, a cincher, and hair that would make Dolly Parton’s look demure. I have on more clothes than anyone here.” Still, the question of how appropriate my appearance is for the public. Some of the venues we work with have stood behind us staunchly, and have been great allies (like City Winery Nashville).

Unfortunately, that’s not the case everywhere. We had some venues completely cancel our shows in fear of backlash, or wanted to hide us away so hopefully they didn’t have to take too much of a stance. Due to the national coverage of the bill, I’ve also gotten amazing opportunities I couldn’t have otherwise imagined. I was able to perform with Lizzo, myself and many other drag queens took the stage at Nissan Stadium for “Love Rising” and countless other things I’m so grateful for. But it hasn’t all been good, many corporations are not wanting to use drag this Pride season, so this year is probably the slowest Pride I’ve had since the pandemic.

Why do you think bans like this are happening now?
I think the bans have started to become a thing due to the culture wars happening around us. Drag queens are leaders of the LGBTQ+ community, and if you want to attack a community, you attack its leaders. It became very clear with the legislation that the goal was to demonetize drag. A larger theme through all of this is an attack on the trans community. I believe a lot of the drag laws were put down so they could be used against trans people. The law that was recently overturned could have given a trans person who dared to sing karaoke in front of a child a felony and prison time. They’re not trying to criminalize behavior, they’re trying to criminalize people.

Do you think that other states will follow suit?
This issue isn’t confined to the borders of Tennessee. It’s an issue in Florida, it’s an issue in Texas, and if we don’t vote, then it’s going to be a national issue. There’s a reason many of the bills have almost identical wording. Most of the bills don’t come from the minds of our elected legislators, instead they take prewritten bills from groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, the Liberty Counsel, and the American Principles Project. These religious groups introduce hateful legislation, and then pass it off to our elected legislators who are supposed to have our best interests at heart.

Is there anything that we can do to encourage lawmakers to put a stop to this type of discrimination?
There are lots of things you can do! First and foremost: vote. Call and email elected officials and show up to protests. Also, support local drag! I know it sounds silly, but going to a show and tipping just a dollar in times like these mean a lot to us and our community.

A federal judge rejected the anti-drag law mentioned above for being “too broad, too vague.” So, what happens next?
From my understanding, after the law was struck down, it’s dead for the year. They could introduce something new and even more terrible next year, but for now, we’re okay. We need to continue to vote and stay vigilant.