The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
April 26, 2023

Texas State Agency Imposes "Biological Gender"-Based Dress Code as Florida Seeks to Ban Drag Shows
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Texas Department of Agriculture issued a memo forcing its employees
to wear clothing that is consistent with their so-called biological
gender. The move is the latest attack on the rights of transgender
people in Texas. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is a Republican and
loyal supporter of former President Trump.

In related news in Florida, hundreds of drag performers and supporters
marched to the state Capitol in Tallahassee Tuesday protesting a new
bill that bans children from attending "adult live performances," which
LGBTQ advocates say targets drag shows. This is one of the
demonstrators.

Kevin Parker: "Drag is not a crime. It's an art form, and it gives us a
community that we didn't previously have. And that's what - that's what
today is about. Today is about community. Today is about showing the
Florida Legislature that no matter what they do, no matter how hard they
try, our community - LGBTQ, trans, drag - our community will always
exist, and we will always continue to thrive."



.