Boygenius performs in drag to protest anti-drag legislation in Tennessee

Just after the governor of Tennessee tried and failed to ban public drag demonstrates in the state, Boygenius carried out in drag Sunday all through the group’s Nashville live performance.

The indie-rock band performed the Terrific Lawn in Centennial Park less than a thirty day period immediately after a federal decide struck down a legislation criminalizing drag performances in Tennessee — the initially law of its kind in the United States.

U.S. District Choose Thomas Parker decided that the laws was “unconstitutionally imprecise and considerably overbroad” following Tennessee Gov. Invoice Lee signed it into law.

“Today I’m so grateful for my existence — not due to the fact I get to stand on a stage with my greatest friends … but because I’m content material with the human being that I am,” Julien Baker of Boygenius advised the crowd Sunday.

“I’ve found that I have a large amount of anger for persons who have manufactured me feel little and have built me really feel erased. And I’ve uncovered … a actually potent and humiliating resource for building people people f— off. I would like you to scream so loud that Gov. Bill Lee can listen to you.”

Following Baker’s guide, the viewers began to chant “F— Bill Lee!” as the musicians of Boygenius defiantly elevated their center fingers in the air.

At a person point in the course of the present, Lucy Dacus released herself and her bandmates by their drag names: Lucille Balls (Dacus), Shanita Tums (Baker) and Queef City (Phoebe Bridgers). Dacus wore a sparkly black gown and red platform boots Baker donned a silky purple fit and Elvis-esque wig and Bridgers sported a spiderweb bodysuit and voluminous gray hair.

Boygenius traveled to Nashville in excess of the weekend as part of its ongoing tour, which kicked off before this month in San Diego, Los Angeles and Stanford. In April, the three singer-songwriters — known for tracks this kind of as “Not Strong Enough” and “Cool About It” — performed the Coachella Valley New music and Arts Competition in Indio.

Boygenius is not the initially musical act to converse out in opposition to Tennessee’s anti-drag legislation, which aimed to prohibit “adult cabaret” artists (extensively interpreted as code for drag performers) from accomplishing in public and/or in the existence of youngsters. The regulation was met with outrage from opponents who deemed it discriminatory and oppressive to the LGBTQ+ local community.

In April, Lizzo protested the law by inviting far more than a dozen drag queens — together with Aquaria, Kandy Muse, Asia O’Hara and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo — to sign up for her onstage in Knoxville.

“Why would I not create a protected area in Tennessee where by we can celebrate Satisfaction entertainers and rejoice our variations and rejoice unwanted fat Black women?” Lizzo mentioned in the course of the present.

“What persons are accomplishing in Tennessee is providing hope, so thank you so a great deal for standing up for your rights, shielding just about every other and holding the men and women accountable who must be defending us.”