West Texas A&M president cancels campus drag show calling them demeaning to women

[Behind the Aegis]

West Texas A&M University President Walter Wendler canceled an upcoming drag show on campus calling them demeaning to women.

Wendler sent an email to students, faculty and staff on Monday titled: "A Harmless Drag Show? No Such Thing."

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"As a performance exaggerating aspects of womanhood (sexuality, femininity, gender), drag shows stereotype women in cartoon-like extremes for the amusement of others and discriminate against womanhood," said Wendler. "Any event which diminishes an individual or group through such representation is wrong."

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(from his letter)

WT endeavors to treat all people equally. Drag shows are derisive, divisive and demoralizing misogyny, no matter the stated intent. Such conduct runs counter to the purpose of WT. A person or group should not attempt to elevate itself or a cause by mocking another person or group. As a university president, I would not support “blackface” performances on our campus, even if told the performance is a form of free speech or intended as humor. It is wrong. I do not support any show, performance or artistic expression which denigrates others—in this case, women—for any reason. WT intends to provide fair opportunities to all based on academic performance. Ideas, not ideology, are the coin of our realm. A university campus, charged by the state of Texas to treat each individual fairly, should elevate students based on achievement and capability, performance in a word, without regard to group membership—an implacable and exacting standard based on educational mission and service to all, sanctioned by the legislature, the governor and numerous elected and appointed officials.

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Oh look, a new version of TERF.

Edit to add: from CNN