Some drag artists say they’re considering how often to perform in the District due to unknowns of the current political climate.
WASHINGTON — Drag performers say the unpredictability of the federal surge in D.C. has them concerned and reconsidering how often to accept gigs.
Edwin Figueroa, who goes by the drag name Bombalicious Eklaver, canceled a show at the Arlo Hotel on Sunday after other drag queens expressed worries about the current political climate.
While it’s not typical to cancel a performance at the last minute, Figueroa said they were too nervous to show up in the middle of increased federal officers and National Guard troops spotted in the District.
Although President Donald Trump said the takeover is supposed to clean up the streets, artists feel otherwise amid what they call anti-LGBTQ+ policies from the administration.
“My top priorities are really safety and peace of mind for everyone,” Figueroa said. “We can do always do a show in another venue for another day. I always come in drag and I never felt fear walking in drag but I don’t have that safety that I’m protected right now because I don’t really trust any authority.”
Among the performers who expressed concerns was Brandon Horton, otherwise known as Michelle Livigne, who currently holds the title of “Miss Freddies,” a pageant hosted at Freddie’s Beach Bar and Restaurant in Arlington. Horton normally travels from Richmond alone.
“I’m scared,” Horton said. “There’s no trust about what’s happening right now. I don’t have rhyme or reason to understand what’s happening in front of me and that just worries me because in that same situation, I’m wondering what could happen to me.”
The future of how long a federalized city is expected to last is still unclear. City officials question the move, including deploying even more troops to D.C. when recent data shows crime is down in the city.
“You know the facts on the ground don’t support this,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said to reporters on Monday.
Both Horton and Figueroa agree they’re becoming more selective about which performances to join.
“Taking gigs in D.C., I’m not as adamant as I once was,” Horton said.
Canceling a show means losing out on business.
The restaurant industry also seems to be taking a hit since the federal takeover. New data from OpenTable shows a 25% drop in diners in the District since Trump’s executive order.