On Wednesday, Oregon House Democrats staged a brief drag show featuring lip-sync performances on the House Floor, coinciding with the passage of a resolution that recognizes and celebrates “Black drag.”
The event featured performances by drag artists Isaiah Esquire and Aqua Flora Portland, who were invited by State Rep. Travis Nelson, known for his progressive stance.
This spectacle raises eyebrows and highlights what some see as a troubling trend within the Democratic Party.
Observing the performance, Democratic lawmakers were seen enthusiastically applauding, drawing comparisons to seals at a circus.
WATCH:
In response to the event, State Rep. Dwayne Yunker took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night, denouncing the performance as “outrageous” and accusing the Democrats of wasting taxpayer dollars. He stated, “Tomorrow at 11 a.m., when the House convenes, two drag queens will be performing a lip-sync in honor of a Democratic House resolution recognizing Black drag queens in Oregon. This is outrageous and a complete waste of taxpayer money.”
If you want to see who supports this, click… pic.twitter.com/994CM2S0bR
— Rep. Dwayne Yunker HD3 (@RepYunker) June 18, 2025
The resolution, which was passed with a vote of 34 in favor and 9 against, aims to “recognize and honor Oregon’s rich history of Black drag” and congratulates those who have contributed to making the state’s Black drag community vibrant and essential, as noted in a staff summary.
“We, the members of the House of Representatives of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, recognize and honor Oregon’s rich history of Black drag, and we congratulate all those whose spirited contributions have made Oregon’s Black drag community one of the most vibrant and vital in the nation,” the resolution concludes.
This performance echoes a previous incident involving Arizona Democrats, who hosted a drag story hour where drag performers promoted discussions about gender identity with children, drawing significant criticism.
WATCH: “Listen to Your Kids” – Democrat Lawmakers Host ‘Drag Story Hour’ at Arizona State House to Promote Youth Gender Transitions
