12 hours ago
Watch: Drag queens dance for representatives on Oregon House floor
Two drag queens danced in the Oregon House of Representatives to celebrate the passing of a Democratic resolution that marked 'the artistry of black drag performers'.
Footage of the flamboyant performance shows the pair taking to the House floor dressed in shimmering kimonos – one in gold and the other in silver – to the sound of Beyonce's I Was Here.
They then proceeded to remove their robes and perform a dance routine, with Isiah Esquire, who is bald, revealing a gold vest and Aqua Flora, sporting a blue wig, wearing a multi-coloured jumpsuit.
As they lip-synced to Aretha Franklin's A Deeper Love, the drag queens performed the splits before carrying out an exaggerated cat walk, known as 'sashaying', down the aisle in the centre of the House floor while bearing a rainbow-coloured LGBT flag.
House members encouraged to applaud
Politicians were encouraged to interact with the spectacle by David Gomberg, a Democrat House speaker, who told the chamber: 'Normally, colleagues, we don't applaud during performances…But there are times when I think exceptions are appropriate.'
However, the performance was criticised by Republicans, with Dwayne Yunker, a state lawmaker, saying taxpayer-funded chambers should be used for 'serious debate' not 'political theater'.
The performance was followed by a speech from Travis E Nelson, a Democratic lawmaker and the first black LGBT member of the House, who brought forward the resolution and praised the drag queens for their 'artistry and courage'.
Mr Nelson said: 'Your presence, artistry and courage are a powerful reminder of the joy, resilience and cultural impact of drag in Oregon and beyond. Thank you for sharing your light with us this morning.'
The resolution, which passed 34-9, with all no votes cast by Republicans, was scheduled for Pride month and praised Oregon's drag queens for making the black drag community 'one of the most vibrant and vital in the nation'.
'More performance than governance'
The performance was met with a swift backlash from Republicans. Mr Yunker said it was hardly in keeping with the vision of the Founding Fathers.
He posted on X: 'I'm not sure the Founding Fathers envisioned taxpayer-funded legislative chambers being turned into platforms for political theater.
'The House floor is meant for serious debate, lawmaking, and serving all Oregonians not partisan spectacles designed to push cultural agendas. If this feels more like a performance than governance, you're not alone.'
Mr Nelson noted that the drag queens were not paid for the performance.
Musical offerings and peculiar resolutions are often part of Oregon House business. Earlier this week, lawmakers adopted a resolution designating the T-Bone as the state's official steak.
Aqua Flora described taking part in the performance as 'powerful and beautiful'.
The drag queen told The Oregonian: 'What got me through the performance was feeling the ancestors of all these people in the room with us.'
