Latest news with #QueerEmpowermentCouncil
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Texas A&M's 'Draggieland' allowed to proceed after judge rules against drag ban
The Brief A U.S. district judge ruled against Texas A&M's drag ban on Monday. A student group opposed the bill in an attempt to hold its annual 'Draggieland' event. 'Draggieland' is scheduled to be held on Thursday. A U.S. district judge has blocked a drag show ban put into place by the Texas A&M University System board of regents, that should allow its annual "Draggieland" event to be held this week. Draggieland, a student-run drag event, is scheduled to be held on Thursday at the Rudder Theatre. What we know The Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council challenged the board of regents' move to ban the annual show. On Friday, Feb. 28, Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp and President Mark Walsh were ordered to immediately cancel any planned drag shows on Texas A&M University System campuses. The resolution says that using university facilities for drag events could violate an executive order by President Trump and a directive from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The Queer Empowerment Council says the ban may violate the First Amendment right to free speech and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. United States District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, a George H.W. Bush appointee, granted a preliminary injunction against the ban on Monday. "It is a ticketed event; only those who want to attend do so. Anyone who finds the performance or performers offensive has a simple remedy: don't go," Rosenthal wrote in her opinion. What we don't know It's not clear if Texas A&M will appeal the ruling. 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. What they're saying "We're overjoyed with today's decision. This is another display of the resilience of queer joy, as that is an unstoppable force despite those that wish to see it destroyed. While this fight isn't over, we are going to appreciate the joy we get to bring by putting on the best show that we can do," wrote the Queer Empowerment Council in a statement. The Source Information in this article comes from court filings in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and FOX News Digital.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge blocks Texas A&M drag ban
A federal judge handed a preliminary victory Monday to an LGBTQ student group that sued the Texas A&M University System and its flagship over a policy effectively banning drag performances on each of its 11 campuses. The university system's Board of Regents voted almost unanimously in February to adopt a resolution stating drag events are inconsistent with the system's 'mission and core values, including the value of respect for others.' 'These events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women,' states the resolution, adding that such performances may violate university-wide anti-discrimination policies and Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination. The document cites an executive order President Trump signed on his first day back in office, which proclaims the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and broadly prevents federal funds from being used to promote what Trump and his administration have called 'gender ideology.' Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed state agencies to implement Trump's order in a letter in January. The resolution argues, '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.' The Queer Empowerment Council, a student organization at Texas A&M University, the system's flagship institution, argued in a lawsuit this month that the resolution violates their free speech rights and the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires governmental bodies to post a meeting's location and agenda at least 72 hours in advance. In her ruling on Monday, Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas said the group is likely to succeed in showing the ban on drag shows violates the First Amendment. 'In recent years, the commitment to free speech on campuses has been both challenging and challenged,' wrote Rosenthal, an appointee of former President George H. W. Bush. 'There have been efforts from all sides of the political spectrum to disrupt or prevent students, faculty, and others from expressing opinions and speech that are deemed, or actually are, offensive or wrong. But the law requires the recognition and application of speech rights and guardrails that preserve and protect all our treasured First Amendment rights.' The ruling means 'Draggieland,' an annual drag competition at A&M, will go on as scheduled March 27 at the school's Rudder Theatre. A spokesperson for the A&M University System said it had received the ruling and is evaluating next steps. 'We're overjoyed with today's decision,' members of the Queer Empowerment Council said Monday in a joint statement. 'This is another display of the resilience of queer joy, as that is an unstoppable force despite those that wish to see it destroyed. While this fight isn't over, we are going to appreciate the joy we get to bring by putting on the best show that we can do.' This story was updated at 4:43 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. Desantis Proposes Solution As Trump's Agenda Is Stymied By Judges "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. Read On The Fox News App "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 Hitchhiker's Guide To How Congress May Try To Discipline Judges Who Rule Against Trump 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. Scotus Tosses Challenge To Tn Law Banning Drag Shows With Kids Present, State Ag Hails Decision 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."Original article source: Judge blocks enforcement of Texas A&M system's drag show ban, allowing 'Draggieland' event on campus this week
The Hill
24-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Judge blocks Texas A&M drag ban
A federal judge handed a preliminary victory Monday to an LGBTQ student group that sued the Texas A&M University System and its flagship over a policy effectively banning drag performances on each of its 11 campuses. The university system's Board of Regents voted almost unanimously in February to adopt a resolution stating drag events are inconsistent with the system's 'mission and core values, including the value of respect for others.' 'These events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women,' states the resolution, adding that such performances may violate university-wide anti-discrimination policies and Title IX, the federal civil rights law against sex discrimination. The document cites an executive order President Trump signed on his first day back in office, which proclaims the government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, and broadly prevents federal funds from being used to promote what Trump and his administration have called 'gender ideology.' Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed state agencies to implement Trump's order in a letter in January. The resolution argues, '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.' The Queer Empowerment Council, a student organization at Texas A&M University, the system's flagship institution, argued in a lawsuit this month that the resolution violates their free speech rights and the Texas Open Meetings Act, which requires governmental bodies to post a meeting's location and agenda at least 72 hours in advance. In her ruling on Monday, Judge Lee H. Rosenthal of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas said the group is likely to succeed in showing the ban on drag shows violates the First Amendment. 'In recent years, the commitment to free speech on campuses has been both challenging and challenged,' wrote Rosenthal, an appointee of former President George H. W. Bush. 'There have been efforts from all sides of the political spectrum to disrupt or prevent students, faculty, and others from expressing opinions and speech that are deemed, or actually are, offensive or wrong. But the law requires the recognition and application of speech rights and guardrails that preserve and protect all our treasured First Amendment rights.' The ruling means 'Draggieland,' an annual drag competition at A&M, will go on as scheduled March 27 at the school's Rudder Theatre. A spokesperson for the A&M University System did not immediately return a request for comment. 'We're overjoyed with today's decision,' members of the Queer Empowerment Council said Monday in a joint statement. 'This is another display of the resilience of queer joy, as that is an unstoppable force despite those that wish to see it destroyed. While this fight isn't over, we are going to appreciate the joy we get to bring by putting on the best show that we can do.'
Fox News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
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."
