Demonstration against the Texas Drag Queens border wall: NPR

Drag queens from all over the Rio Grande Valley in Texas met last weekend in Brownsville to protest the construction of the border wall and draw attention to LGBTQ migrants who have been arrested or are looking for help. 39; asylum.

In a public park, an interpreter who passes near Beatrix Lestrange did not have to fight to attract the attention of the demonstrators gathered for the No Border Wall Protest drag show. Lestrange wore a multicolored dress, a red wig, black pumps, and a choker with nails.

"Who is ready to have a political time?" Cried Lestrange. The audience, standing in a semicircle and dressed in equally bright clothes, applauded and applauded.

"We will try to bring joy, positivity, beauty, resilience and culture to everything that it is," said Lestrange, pointing to the section of the fence located right behind her.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a spending bill providing $ 1.375 billion for border infrastructure construction in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. In November, US Customs and Border Protection, in partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, awarded two contracts for the construction of a border wall in southern Texas. Construction is expected to begin this month.

Lestrange organized the drag queen protest show and is a self-proclaimed "dragtavist" – a drag queen engaged in social activism.

"The vision was to perform in front of this wall and project our beauty, glamor and power to this symbol that is synonymous with hatred, racism and xenophobia," said Lestrange.

When Lestrange set up the music, the participants lined up and prepared their own performances.

Michelangelo Da Vinci, whose first name is Sabino Ponce Jr., said that moment had a personal resonance for him. His father was formerly undocumented.

"I know that his struggle is coming to an end and that he has built his art with his third year studies," he said. "There are other people who are trying to come here and do something better for themselves and their families – my father being one of them – and those other people as well. so that they may have the chance to live here too. "

The queens also sang as part of the event, including "American Idiot" by Green Day and "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga.

David Bocanegra, who plays the role of Arina Heys, wanted to participate in order to showcase the beauty of Latin culture in the region.

"We are painted as a negative image," said the artist. "We are like any other community and we are extremely family oriented, they are lovely, humble and welcoming."

Jorge Trujillo, a professor at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley, was among the spectators. He said the drag show illustrates how the Rio Grande Valley is the United States at its best.

"We must continue this movement and let people never forget that it [has] has never been a more perfect opportunity to be proud of Valley, "said Trujillo.

Lestrange wanted the demonstration to show solidarity with LGBTQ asylum seekers. She hoped that their performance would raise awareness of the issues facing trans and queer migrants.

"I have tears in my eyes and I feel emotions every time," she says, "because they are already fleeing really horrible conditions.They are fleeing homophobia, transphobia, violence , trauma, to come then to the doors of our country and to meet more this. "

In less than two hours, the drag queens collected about $ 650. All funds will go to local organizations working with LGBTQ asylum seekers.

Lestrange also wants to challenge other LGBTQ communities in the country to participate in their own form of activism.

"If we can do that in front of the wall of the border, they can do something similar," said Lestrange. "Do it now because tomorrow is too late."