HB 1217: A Drag Ban No Matter What You Call It
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2025
Oklahoma one step closer to be the first state since 2023 to chill speech by targeting drag performers and venues with criminalization
Background photo by Doug Hoke, courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society, features Tony Sinclair applying makeup for a drag show in his dressing room, from a June 18, 1984 story in the Daily Oklahoman titled "City Drag Queen Struts His Stuff"
Image description: photo of a drag performer, feet up, putting finishing touches on makeup, as part of a digital collage with elements including jewels, glitter, flowers, lipstick, and crystals. Collaged letters spell out "HB 1217 chills free speech f*ck your drag ban" with a Freedom Oklahoma logo
Oklahoma City, OK – Pride month is right around the corner, and the Oklahoma legislature took another step today to remind 2SLGBTQ+ folks we’re not welcome in this state by advancing legislation that would chill speech related to drag performances. While the authors claim that by not using the word drag explicitly in the bill they’re not actually targeting drag, all of the rhetoric related to the bill has made it clear that it is drag performers first and foremost who should fear being criminalized for their performance, whether or not there is enough evidence to convict someone under this purposefully vague law. On the passage of HB 1217 from the Senate floor, with the attached emergency declaring it necessary to enact the criminalization immediately, Freedom Oklahoma issued the following statement:
The following from Nicole McAfee, they/she, Freedom Oklahoma Executive Director:
“This bill is politically motivated nonsense. It is clear the intent is to chill speech. As Oklahoma moves one step closer to being the first state since 2023 and 7th state in the nation to enact legislation that would target drag through threat of criminalization, we’ll work to ensure community partners across the state have clear understandings of the explicit and implicit implications of this policy, and the ways they can work to create community safety as we enjoy the full spectrum of celebration of 2SLGBTQ+ resilience and resistance, this pride season and beyond. Ultimately to offer the obscenities that seem to be so central to this effort, we say f*ck this drag ban and the folks smiling and winking as they act like they’re fooling anyone about who they intend to harm. Drag performers have always been targeted, because their existence is at the root of the expression of joyful disruption of norms and the power of the status quo.“
HB 1217 and the attached emergency by Rep Kevin West and Sen David Bullard passed off the floor of the Senate on a party line vote.