PatriotNews , 2023-03-16 18:57:52
Neo-Nazis Increasingly Recruiting from Anti-Drag Activism
In recent months, white supremacist groups around the country have become increasingly focused on drag events, such as public pride celebrations and drag queen story hours, as sites of protest. Sadly, these demonstrations are leading to a large uptick in recruitment for Neo-Nazi organizations, as revealed by Josh Nunes, the leader of National Socialist Florida, a Neo-Nazi organization located in Florida.
Anti-Drag Sentiment Spreading
Nunes stated that “certain types of activism” are getting people more involved in Neo-Nazi efforts, namely anti-drag bigotry. “That’s where like the drag queen shit — like everybody wants to be a part of the team shutting that down,” he said. “We’ve just seen the largest upticks in recruitment from the drag stuff.” The sentiment against drag has also translated to legislative efforts in certain states. In particular, Tennessee became the first state to prohibit public drag performances in February, despite photos surfacing of the governor, Bill Lee, dressed in drag.
Violence against Drag Queen Story Hours
The GLAAD Network found that there were at least 124 documented attacks on drag events last year. One of these events was the Club Q shooting in November, in which five people were killed and 22 were injured. The shooting took place the day before Trans Day of Remembrance, during which the nightclub was set to host a drag showcase. The alleged shooter, Anderson Lee Aldrich, ran a neo-Nazi website, as well as using the n-word and calling LGBTQ+ people “f*gs” while gaming online.
Neo-Nazi Recruitment Numbers Growing
Nunes reported that since his organization began with a few followers protesting drag shows last year, it has grown and now holds monthly demonstrations. In the beginning there were around 20 people, but Nunes expects to get up to 30 or 40 by the end of the year. It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see anti-drag bigotry and hate being used as a tool to recruit people into Neo-Nazi organizations.
The rising public sentiment against drag should be a reminder to everyone that we must work together to stop the spread of hatred and ignorance. We must remain vigilant and continue to support initiatives that allow everyone, regardless of race or gender, to celebrate who they are and push for equality. We must also remember and honour those who have been victims of violence for standing up for their identities.