Catholic Students Protest Drag Show on Texas Campus

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COLLEGE STATION, Texas (ChurchMilitant.com) - Catholic students are pushing back against a pro-LGBT event being held next week at a prominent Texas university.

Texas A&M (A&M) is hosting a drag queen show that's disgusting to local Catholic students. The event, titled Draggieland, is scheduled for Feb. 19 and consists of men dressed as women competing for the so-called title "Queen of DRAGieland 2020."

Aaron Misley, one of the Catholic students organizing the protest, told Church Militant that pro-family group TFP Student Action is helping to coordinate the demonstration.

"It is being organized by TFP Student Action and there are several members from the area who will also be attending," said Misley. "All the protesters that I know of so far are Catholic. I have invited Protestants to attend but they declined."

Students have launched an online petition titled Stop Draggieland that denounces the pro-LGBT event. The petition has garnered some 1,402 signatures, just shy of their goal of 1,500. The petition explains that the event is funded by the university but contradicts A&M's core values of respect and excellence.

"The dress and actions of these performers are disrespectful to women, with men portraying women as objects of sexual exploitation for the entertainment of the student body," reads the petition. "The actions of this event do not promote excellence of the student body, but instead foster a climate of degradation."

"During our protest yesterday while collecting signatures for the petition," related Misley, "we had more support than we thought."

But he was still overwhelmed by the level of apathy among his fellow students.

"Most people didn't care, a small number were hostile, but many gave their support," he remarked. "Most importantly, every member that we encountered of the Corps of Cadets, the student military organization, were against the event but could not sign as they were in uniform."

Misley said the most disheartening thing his group encountered was rejection from liberal Catholics on campus, especially from many members of the Catholic Student Association on campus.

"We even spoke to two of the drag queens who would be performing," recounted Misley, "and they were actually less rude than the other student liberals."

The students' petition noted they were against all forms of exploitation of human persons whether it be by human trafficking, pornography, prostitution or by dressing up as sexual objects.

"We believe that the human person, their bodies, and their sexuality are sacred and special and not something that should be exploited, laughed at, abused or used for the entertainment of others," stated the petition.

The petition is urging A&M President Michael K. Young and Vice President Daniel J. Pugh Sr. to cancel the event "for the protection of women and promotion of A&M's core values."

"We are against Draggieland because it confuses people and their identity," said the petition. "It promotes the sexualization of the human person and goes against the values of our university."

"I believe the fact that this event is being allowed to occur on our campus is disgusting and shameful of my university, as it goes against our core values of excellence, integrity and respect," Misley commented.

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