Texas A&M University students won a major victory Monday as a federal judge ruled that their annual “Draggieland” performance could proceed, despite the university’s attempt to cancel it. U.S. District Judge Lee H. Rosenthal, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, ruled that the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council was likely to prove the university’s drag ban violated the First Amendment.
The ruling came after Texas A&M’s Board of Regents voted in February to ban drag performances across its 11 campuses. The board justified the move by claiming drag shows create a hostile environment for women, echoing language from Trump’s recent executive order on gender ideology. But free speech advocates pushed back. “Draggieland” will take place this Thursday.
