Judge blocks enforcement of Texas A&M system's drag show ban, allowing 'Draggieland' event on campus this week
Senior U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal has blocked enforcement of the Texas A&M University System board of regents' drag show ban, insisting that an event called "Draggieland" must be allowed to take place at a university facility later this week.
"Defendants … must permit the Draggieland performance to take place as scheduled on March 27, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., at the Rudder Theatre," Rosenthal's eyebrow-raising order declares.
The grant of preliminary injunction comes as the Queer Empowerment Council at Texas A&M University, which is behind "Draggieland," challenged the Texas A&M University System board of regents' move to ban drag shows.
"Draggieland has been a vibrant and award-winning student-run event for many years, embodying queer joy and unity," the Queer Empowerment Council said in a statement last month when responding to the ban.
A Texas A&M University spokesperson told Fox News Digital via email on Monday that the institution cannot comment on pending litigation.
"The system has received the opinion and is evaluating next steps," a Texas A&M University system spokesperson told Fox News Digital via phone on Monday.
Fox News Digital also reached out to request comment from the Queer Empowerment Council at TAMU, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
The resolution to ban drag shows states that "it is the policy of the Board of Regents that Drag Show Events shall not be held at Special Event Venues on any of the campuses of the Universities … "
The measure points to President Donald Trump's January executive order, "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," as well as to a letter issued by the Lone Star State's Republican Gov. Greg Abbott later that month.
The resolution states that "given that both the System and the Universities receive significant federal funding, the use of facilities at the Universities for Drag Show Events may be considered promotion of gender ideology in violation of the Executive Order and the Governor's directive."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Newsom's office compares LA riots against federal agents to sports celebrations
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office downplayed the riots gripping Los Angeles, likening them to sports celebrations that notoriously break out in Philadelphia after an Eagles' victory. "LA riots? Have these geniuses ever seen what happens when the Eagles win a playoff game?" Izzy Gardon, Newsom's communications director, told Fox News Digital on Sunday morning. Philadelphia notoriously sees sports revelers flood the city after beloved teams such as the Eagles or Phillies win championships, sometimes setting cars ablaze and causing property damage. The city even greases city light poles to dissuade partiers from scaling them and deploys additional police to the streets while often wearing riot gear. Fox News Digital reached out to the governor's office to ask about claims by California Republicans and natives that Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass bore some of the blame for the riots. They and other local Democrats issued messages defending illegal immigrants and condemning federal agents for carrying out deportation raids in the left-wing city. California Republicans Slam Newsom, Bass For Letting La Burn With Riots Amid Trump Immigration Blitz "Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass have a real habit of letting Los Angeles burn," Republican California Rep. Darell Issa posted to X on Saturday evening. Read On The Fox News App "If only Karen Bass fought against the Los Angeles fires like she fights for illegal aliens," Issa added in another post, referring to the Palisades fire that tore through Southern California in January. Federal Officials Slam Democrats For 'Dangerous' Rhetoric As Ice Agents Face Violent Mobs In La, Nyc "Gavin Newsom is unqualified for a plethora of reasons, the least of which is his support of illegal alien insurrectionists. He is an all purpose, all around loser," Hollywood actor and California resident James Woods posted to X. Federal officials have also pinned blame for the violence on Democratic elected officials who have "villainized and demonized" ICE law enforcement, Fox Digital previously reported. "This is on you, Governor. It is a shame that California openly defies federal law and sides with illegal aliens, including hardened criminals, against its own citizens," Harmeet Dhillon, former vice chair of the California Republican Party and current assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, posted to X. "The violent targeting of law enforcement in Los Angeles by lawless rioters is despicable and Mayor Bass and Governor Newsom must call for it to end," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin wrote in a statement. "The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line to protect and defend the lives of American citizens.… From comparisons to the modern-day Nazi gestapo to glorifying rioters, the violent rhetoric of these sanctuary politicians is beyond the pale. This violence against ICE must end." Social Media, Trump Admin Erupts Over La Mayor's Reaction To Ice Raids: 'You're A Criminal Too' Newsom on Friday described the Trump administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles as "chaotic and reckless." "Continued chaotic federal sweeps, across California, to meet an arbitrary arrest quota are as reckless as they are cruel. Donald Trump's chaos is eroding trust, tearing families apart, and undermining the workers and industries that power America's economy," Newsom's statement read. The press office doubled down in support of shielding illegal immigrants from deportation in a response X post to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Saturday. "In recent days, violent mobs have attacked ICE Officers and Federal Law Enforcement Agents carrying out basic deportation operations in Los Angeles, California. These operations are essential to halting and reversing the invasion of illegal criminals into the United States. In the wake of this violence, California's feckless Democrat leaders have completely abdicated their responsibility to protect their citizens," Leavitt posted to X. Newsom's office responded: "These are anything but basic. Your indiscriminate sweeps are terrifying entire communities and detaining hardworking, tax-paying Californians. It's cruel escalation and must end." When asked about the riots, and California Republicans condemning the violence and Newsom's stance on immigration on Sunday morning, the governor's office compared the lawlessness to street parties after an Eagles win. Patel Promises Fbi Coming For Anyone Assaulting Cops As Los Angeles Erupts Over Ice Raids The riots in Los Angeles, however, have included targeted attacks on federal law enforcement officials, including violent protesters lobbing rocks and other items at immigration officials. U.S. Border Patrol Chief Michael W. Banks, for example, shared a photo of a Border Patrol agent's bloody hand that was injured by a rock flying through the windshield. Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Saturday to deploy 2,000 National Guardsmen to Paramount, California, to help quell the violence, and has also slammed the local leaders for the chaos. "If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can't do their jobs, which everyone knows they can't, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" Trump posted to Truth Social on Saturday article source: Newsom's office compares LA riots against federal agents to sports celebrations
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Political divide widens as Trump deploys National Guard to Los Angeles
By Nandita Bose BEDMINSTER, New Jersey (Reuters) - Republicans and Democrats traded barbs on Sunday after President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles amid massive protests against increasing and divisive immigration raids. "Important to remember that Trump isn't trying to heal or keep the peace. He is looking to inflame and divide," Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said in one of the most direct rebukes. "His movement doesn't believe in democracy or protest - and if they get a chance to end the rule of law they will take it." Democratic Senator Cory Booker condemned Trump for deploying troops without California's approval, warning it would only escalate tensions. On NBC's "Meet the Press" he accused Trump of hypocrisy, and noted the president's inaction on January 6, 2021 when thousands of his supporters raided the U.S. Capitol and his subsequent pardons for those arrested. Footage showed at least a half dozen military-style vehicles and riot shields on Sunday at the federal building in Los Angeles with federal law enforcement firing gas canisters to disperse demonstrators protesting against the ICE crackdown. California Governor Gavin Newsom and Trump sparred over the protests, with Newsom condemning the federal response as an overreach, saying Trump wants "a spectacle," while the president accused Newsom of failing to maintain order. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday defended Trump's decision and said he had no concern about the National Guard deployment, adding, "One of our core principles is maintaining peace through strength. We do that in foreign affairs and domestic affairs as well. I don't think that's heavy handed." Republican Senator James Lankford said Trump is trying to de-escalate tensions, pointing to scenes of protesters throwing objects at law enforcement. He recalled similar unrest in 2020 in Seattle and Portland, where National Guard backed local law enforcement amid racial justice protests. The protests against the raids have become the latest focal point in a national debate over immigration, protest rights, and the use of federal force in domestic affairs. It also has fueled discussion on the boundaries of presidential power and the public's right to dissent.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘Idiocy': Sac PD must rectify situation with Sen. Sabrina Cervantes
'Sacramento police must apologize for harming a California state senator | Opinion,' ( May 30) My wife and I live down in Riverside County, in Sen. Sabrina Cervantes' district. We know her and we believe in her. We believed immediately in the senator's protest because the allegation that she was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol was so preposterously out of character. Aside from the city budget deficit, is this idiocy an example of what the Sacramento Police Department is wasting their time and taxpayers' money on? To Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester: Shame on what your officers have been encouraged or taught to do. It just may backfire on the department when the city takes up the budget for next year. Brian Finander Moreno Valley 'Nine California Republicans voted for Trump's cruel budget bill. Remember them,' ( May 22) Rep. Kevin Kiley claims to support Medicaid, but his vote for a congressional budget that guts the program tells another story. By backing cuts that threaten healthcare for millions — including over 100,000 of his own constituents — Kiley is turning his back on children, seniors and people with disabilities who rely on this essential lifeline. He blames Medi-Cal expansion for the strain, but that's no excuse for dismantling a program that serves our most vulnerable. Even more galling, the same budget that slashes social safety nets hands massive tax breaks to the wealthy — ballooning the national debt while sacrificing essential services. You can't claim to support Medicaid while voting to destroy it. John Bergmann Lincoln 'Nine California Republicans voted for Trump's cruel budget bill. Remember them,' ( May 22) Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley just voted for the largest ever transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in American history. The budget bill they passed insures that the richest 0.1% percent will gain while the rest of us will lose vital services such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid. The most vulnerable among us — hungry and uninsured kids and seniors — will be directly affected; but the middle class will also see increasing home electric bills, health care premiums and costs and higher interest rates. These cuts don't reduce the debt, they exist so billionaires can pay even less in taxes and buy more yachts. Republicans are solely focused on enriching billionaires, no matter the cost to you, me or the country. Kiley's priority should be his constituents, not his wealthy donors. Edward Farinsky Browns Valley 'How Newsom wants to fill 'Trump slump' fueled $12B deficit,' ( May 14) With annual state funding, the California Peer-Run Warm Line has been providing free emotional support to residents statewide 24/7 via phone, text or chat since 2019. Its success has enabled more growth: the CalHOPE and Spanish Warm Lines. March and April each saw nearly 40,000 contacts — about double their monthly average. Why would we give up on such a vital resource seeing skyrocketing demand? The cuts in Gov. Gavin Newsom's May Revise are so severe that we would only be able to answer about 5% of requests for help, leaving tens of thousands to suffer in silence. We wouldn't be able to stay open. We urge the Legislature to prioritize mental health and to fully fund the warm lines. Such investments often prevent people from going into crisis, which require more expensive treatment. Mark Salazar Mental Health Association of San Francisco
