Drag performers and their allies held a protest outside the Kennedy Center on Friday in protest of Donald Trump’s takeover of the institution.

Trump recently fired the former president and 17 other board members of the historic cultural center, naming himself chairman. He said that under his leadership, the Kennedy Center would ban drag shows and “woke programming.”

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Dictators have long used the arts to seize power. Trump’s Kennedy Center takeover should terrify us.
The move must not be considered minor among his firehose of actions.

“We demand that the Kennedy Center board reinstate queer programming, including but not limited to drag-oriented workshops and shows, and any other equity and DEI initiatives at the Kennedy Center,” said drag king Lord Henry, who spoke at the protest.

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“We want to force Congress to drop the multiple attempts at criminalizing gender nonconformity, including Trump’s executive order conflating sex and gender, and the attacks on drag artists through budget amendments, denying funds to organizations supporting and protecting this queer art form, as well as so much more.”

“We care deeply about D.C. home rule,” Lord Henry added. “If home rule goes away, drag goes away in D.C.”

Drag artist Brooke N Hymen, who identifies as a trans man, spoke about the devastating effects banning gender-affirming care and drag would have on trans and queer people: “Drag is not just an invaluable form of self-expression, but is a means of self-discovery. And not only are our livelihoods and artistry as drag artists under attack by the current administration, but the very existence of trans people as well.”

“Beyond the executive orders meant to erase trans people from public life, Trump and his cronies want to define living in a trans body and expressing yourself in a way that aligns with your gender identity as ‘doing drag.’ So, by attacking drag and attempts to outlaw drag on local and national levels, Trump is simultaneously attempting to outlaw trans people’s very existence.”

The protest began in Washington Circle before those in attendance marched about half a mile to rally in front of the Kennedy Center, The Washington Blade reported. Speakers also included Crystal Edge, Indiana Bones, Cake Pop!, Tara Hoot, Mari Con Carne, Blaq Dinamyte, Mx. Noir, and Ricky Rosé.

Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has caused a number of artists to cancel their events there. Lin Manuel Miranda canceled a performance of Hamilton, and Issa Rae canceled a show.

Meanwhile, the Kennedy Center itself has also canceled engagements – particularly those with any traces of queer or pro-science themes. The Center canceled a World Pride concert that would have featured the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., a post-Broadway showing of Eureka Day (which is about anti-vaxxers), and a children’s musical called Finn, which is about a shark but can be considered a metaphor for the queer experience.

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