Make Protest Art With Your Friends
Ariana Word in Drag Pride Month 2023 at the Tennessee State Capitol Building. Photo by Victoria Rosa
In 2023, Tennessee introduced some pretty harsh anti-trans and anti-drag laws, leaving many of us feeling frustrated and ready to take action. One way to channel that energy is by making some powerful protest art with your friends.
Protest art is not just for the pros—it's for anyone who wants to make their voice heard. It's about expressing yourself, standing up for what you believe in, and bringing your best friends and allies along for the ride. My best friend Victoria Rosa of Retrospect Nashville/ Retrospect Boudoir and I felt compelled to speak out and send a message. She chose the location and took all of the images, I became a drag king for the first time and had a month-long identity crisis over it. We are sharing our reasons and letting you know how you can stand up for a cause and make waves with protest art of your own.
Get the Scoop.
First things first, get the lowdown on these laws. Knowing exactly what you’re protesting against is key to making your art hit harder and be more meaningful.
This is how it went down for us.
The "anti-drag bill" was so vaguely written that no one really knew what counted as a "public space" or who qualified as a "female impersonator." Even during debates, legislators dodged defining these terms, leaving performers and supporters in a state of uncertainty and anxiety about what might come next. The fear and frustration was real. If the law were to go into effect, drag performers could face serious penalties: a misdemeanor for the first offense, carrying fines up to $2,500 and a year in jail, with subsequent violations escalating to felonies punishable by up to six years in prison and $3,000 in fines.
On March 2nd, when Governor Bill Lee signed this controversial bill, he also approved legislation that bans gender-affirming healthcare for trans teens. This move aligns Tennessee with other conservative states imposing similar bans. Adding fuel to the fire, Governor Lee's commitment to the bill came just days after photos surfaced of him in drag during his high school days. This hypocrisy hasn't gone unnoticed and has only amplified the public outcry.
These actions ignited a wave of protest art, and together they creatively voiced their dissent and demand justice for the LGBTQ+ community.
Pick Your Tools.
Art comes in all shapes and sizes, just like us! Whether you’re into painting, drawing, digital design, or even performance, choose what feels right for you. Remember, there’s no right or wrong way to do this—just dive in, decide on your message, and let your creativity flow.
With me working in the beauty industry and Vickie being a professional photographer, we decided to send our message with makeup brushes and a camera in hand. We created my drag persona Mr. Fitz with some suggestions from our friends, a drag makeup tutorial from my favorite drag king Adam All, some clothes from my partner's closet, and our combined queer injustice rage. Mr. Fitz became our vehicle to communicate, and where better to create our message than the very place these laws were being written?
Team Up.
Grab your friends (Vickie and I honestly grabbed each other for comfort lol) and brainstorm together. Collaborating brings out the best ideas and makes the process more fun. When you are a rebel with a cause you can really get swept up here.
What action was being taken by people with platforms?
On March 20, a group of prominent musicians, including Hayley Williams, Hozier, and Sheryl Crow, joined forces for a 'Love Rising' benefit concert in Nashville. Hosted by Asia O’Hara, a RuPaul’s Drag Race alumna, the event aimed to support Tennessee's LGBTIQ+ community. That’s a hell of a team if I say so myself. The concert successfully raised funds for four Tennessee organizations dedicated to combating the state's ongoing legislative attacks on trans people and drag performers.
Freak Daddy, a formally local trans musician and DJ made a music video at the Capitol building titled “Abomination” in a brave show of pride and in protest of the anti-trans legislation. These are amazing examples of bravery in the face of biogtry.
Think Symbols and Colors.
Use strong, recognizable symbols like rainbows, trans flags, and drag icons to convey your message loud and clear. Make sure they are going to be picking up what you are putting down.
Show the World.
Or in our case, the general public and local lawmakers. We flooded our social media with it. Being two local business owners, it felt powerful just to make our presence and stance known. But you could go bigger! Make a public display, or have your little protest art accomplices spread your message far and wide! The goal is to make your message visible and impossible to ignore, it’s a great way to spread awareness and get more people involved.
Stay Safe and Legal.
Make sure you know the rules about public displays in your area so you can avoid any legal trouble. The aim is to make a positive impact without getting into unnecessary conflicts. I won’t lie, appearing in drag publically at the state capitol did make me nervous for exactly this reason, but we were ready and willing to accept any consequences of what we were doing.
Remember, your art has power. It can inspire, provoke thought, and drive change. A federal judge eventually overturned the Tennessee law prohibiting drag performances in public spaces, ruling it unconstitutional. We were not afraid, and we are still here. If you need resources, we recommend using the Inclusion TN and the ACLU directories.
Hug your friends and loved ones real tight!
With love and gratitude,
Ariana & Vickie
