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Republican US Congressman George Santos has denied reports that he performed as a drag queen in Brazil
Photo: WILL OLIVER/EPA
In several US states, Republicans in the respective parliaments want to enact laws restricting shows with drag queens.
The right-wing Kulturkampf in the USA is directed against ethnic and sexual minorities.
Almost at the same time, it became known that the scandal-ridden, new Republican member of the House of Representatives, George Santos, appeared to be disguised as a drag queen.
He also claims to be gay.
A total of 14 bills targeting drag shows have been introduced in eight states.
Republicans claim these shows instill sexual content in children or sexualize children.
Most anti-drag legislation defines a drag artist as anyone who uses clothing, make-up and gestures associated with a gender other than the gender assigned at birth in a performance.
Establishments that host drag shows are also being targeted by right-wing lawmakers to ban or restrict such performances.
The overview:
In Arizona, it will soon be illegal to hold a drag show within a quarter mile (0.4 km) of a school or public playground.
A Nebraska bill would ban anyone under the age of 19 from attending a drag performance.
Four bills have been introduced in Texas that would equate drag show venues with porn theaters and strip clubs.
In South Carolina, a "Child Innocence Defense Act" would criminalize allowing a minor to attend a drag show.
Republican MP Santos was noticed shortly before he was sworn in at the beginning of January because he made up large parts of his CV.
He had lied about his employers, his religious affiliation and his financial situation.
Santos is a Trump supporter and is extremely conservative.
For example, he is an outspoken supporter of the "Don't Say Gay" law passed by Florida's right-wing governor Ron DeSantis, which bans teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade.
However, Santos is said to have participated in Brazilian beauty pageants 15 years ago as a drag queen under the stage name Kitara Ravache.
Two of his acquaintances recently announced this to the Reuters news agency.
As a drag queen, Santos aspired to the title of Miss Gay Rio de Janeiro.
Despite photos of Santos as a drag queen, the 34-year-old imposter denied the reports and wrote on Twitter that "that I am a drag queen or 'act' as a drag queen" was "categorically wrong".
He accused the media of making "outrageous claims" about his life.
"I will not be distracted or put off by this," Santos said in his tweet.
jso/Reuters