Olivia Allery and Mina Himlie, the all or nothing duo
In a historic and unprecedented move, the Tennessee Congress has passed a law to only allow transgender people and trans allies to be in their state legislature. Not only does the law replace current anti-trans, cisgender lawmakers but it also requires those former lawmakers to work full time in local drag bars for two years following their termination. These are “reparations for decades of escalating violence against trans people that still persists to this day” according to the new legislative body.
On April 1, the vote for the Born This Way Bill took place at the Tennessee State Capitol, but in a strange turn of events, none of Tennessee’s conservative lawmakers were present during voting. Suspicions were high, as many of these same lawmakers were openly oppositional of the bill on social media, however the vote went ahead and passed unanimously in the House and Senate.
The following morning on April 2, the now ex-legislators reportedly woke up unharmed but in full drag on the set of RuPauls Drag Race. According to the Tennessee Capitol’s live broadcast of the event, the legislators were acting very disoriented and somewhat scared of the set. To add further confusion, the Tennessee lawmakers were then confronted by RuPaul herself, who had said, “Ladies, the time has come for you to lip sync… for your LEGISLATURE!” The ex-legislatures were allegedly able to find the exits before any lip synching was able to take place.
Just hours after their escape, the ex-legislators learned of the BTW bill’s passing and were found protesting on the steps of Tennessee’s capitol building. Hoping to catch the new legislators as they left their first meeting, the protesters chanted, “Pwease help us!” while making uwu faces. One of the newly instated legislators paused and faced the crowd, simply replying, “We don’t give a single soggy french fry. Save your tears for the pillow.” The protestors then, reportedly, broke out in tears.
The Echo was able to speak to the protesters as they expressed their outrage and despair for the new ruling body. “This is completely despicable,” one of the protesters sniffled. “I played fair by the rules of capitalism and now I have to be a working gal, lip synching to Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way,’ having dollar bills thrown at me, having women scream ‘Yass queen’ in my direction, maybe feeling somewhat empowered, and- and- even supported? I’ve never known what that felt like before. Maybe I’d actually enjoy—” The interviewee’s ex-colleagues forcibly dragged him away from the reporters before he could finish his comment.
As for the BTW legislature, they have big plans for the future. They released an official statement with their new goals and commitments to the people of Tennessee, which include reinstating drag brunches and all drag performances, making gender affirming healthcare legal and accessible, allowing trans youth to participate in sports that align with their gender identity and instating gender neutral bathrooms in every public facility. Additionally, they are aspiring to change the Tennessee state flag to the rainbow pride flag and to outlaw Chick-fil-a.
“This is a big step for the trans community,” said the new Speaker of the House. “For so long our voices have been silenced, but no longer. This is just the beginning. I’m looking forward to new, fun and fruity opportunities for all queer Tennesseeans, as God intended.”