Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio is set to host its next “Drag Senator Husted” event on Thursday, May 7 at Winchester Music Tavern in Lakewood. The event is designed to be both a drag celebration and a call to action, as Sen. Jon Husted (R) faces re-election against former Sen. Sherrod Brown (D).
Last year, the government defunded Planned Parenthood by stripping the healthcare provider and advocacy organization of its ability to take Medicaid, affecting roughly 22,000 patients in Ohio.
In response, Planned Parenthood (PPAO) has hosted free events to help people “drag” Husted, in support of reproductive healthcare access. On Thursday, attendees can plan to make calls to Husted’s office to voice concerns about the state’s priorities.
“People are paralyzed and don’t know what’s going on and can’t keep up,” Claudia Longo, a program manager for PPAO, told Upbeat Nonsense. “We do these events so people can learn about what’s happening around reproductive rights.”
As an organization, PPAO fights for accessible and affordable reproductive healthcare such as pap smears, STI/STD testing, and cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood also offers legal abortions, though it represents less than 5% of its services, Longo said.
“We want our tax dollars to fund healthcare, NOT ICE,” Lauren Blauvelt, director at PPAO, wrote in an email to Upbeat Nonsense.
After calls have been made and emails have been sent, six local drag performers will take the stage: Therapissed, Stevie Aura, Sammy Nicole SHi’Thead, Transexuella, Veranda L’Ni and Thee Deja Snow.
With drag’s deep roots in activism, many drag queens are too familiar with the fight for bodily autonomy and the right to take up space as a queer person.
“I have met more activists in backstage dressing rooms than anywhere else. I am showing up not only as an artist or an activist, but as a human who these policies impact deeply.”
“The drag community has felt and known these sorts of attacks for a long time,” one of the performers, Thee Deja Snow, told Upbeat Nonsense. “I have met more activists in backstage dressing rooms than anywhere else. I am showing up not only as an artist or an activist, but as a human who these policies impact deeply,” she said.
Together, Planned Parenthood and drag performers are working to build spaces that combine art and activism.
“We show up for our communities every day, and we do it while centering joy and freedom, and a little glitter and glamour never hurt,” Snow said. “I hope it inspires others to get out in the streets to do the good work and to have some fun while doing it.”
Registration is free, but required. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at Winchester Music Tavern in Lakewood. You must be at least 18 years old to attend.