[TV static drones]
[bright tone]
[cars honking]
- Tennessee became the first
state to pass a law that will
restrict drag performances
state to pass a law that will
restrict drag performances
on public property or anywhere
a child could see them.
- This is a blast from hell.
- You shouldn't be simulating
sex acts in front of children.
- Ooh, yeah, drag queens.
- Ooh, yeah, drag queens.
- We're in Tennessee
because of the drag bans
and because of all the hate.
- Hello!
[cheering]
- The open stage show,
that was a success.
The cops didn't
shut the event down,
The cops didn't
shut the event down,
and it was such a wake-up
call for Murfreesboro.
- Tonight is my first
night doing drag.
- There are people who
might look askance at it,
but there's an even
more vocal group who's
but there's an even
more vocal group who's
going to stand up and fight.
[cheering]
- ♪ Who you are ♪
- ♪ Who you are ♪
[soft music]
- But this is just
the beginning.
We got to do something
bigger in the middle of town
for everyone to see.
for everyone to see.
- It is going to be all ages.
That seems to be the condition
that is making drag ill*gal.
We have no idea how people
are going to react.
But that needs to be the goal,
to bring drag to everyone.
But that needs to be the goal,
to bring drag to everyone.
♪ ♪
[police siren wailing]
♪ ♪
- There's a news story out
today because Boro Pride
is going to happen.
- [gasps]
- They've gotten a venue.
- Oh my God.
- Oh my God.
- We're going to be indoors--
- Wow.
- So nobody
can see us or hear us.
Drag queens will not be
allowed on the venue.
- Really?
- I can't even be at the venue.
- I can't even be at the venue.
- Oh my God.
- So welcome to Murfreesboro.
- You can't win.
- You can't win.
Yeah.
Especially with our
new indecency clauses
Especially with our
new indecency clauses
that says anyone can say
something's indecent,
and two leaders are able
to decide whether
that's true or not.
- What does that even mean?
- What does that even mean?
What does "indecent" mean?
- Yeah.
We could be indecent for
sitting here with our nails on.
- That's scary.
When Tennessee passed
the anti-drag bills,
it became international news.
it became international news.
One county was able
to overturn it.
But places like
Murfreesboro introduced
this indecency ordinance
to still limit
drag or anything
that they judge
as being immoral or indecent.
- Our city manager and
our city police chief
are the only ones that
can decide if something
are the only ones that
can decide if something
is decent or indecent.
We don't know if
it is jail time.
We just know that they are the
two that make the decision.
- So the only way any
form of pride can happen
- So the only way any
form of pride can happen
is if drag queens are
kept completely out of it.
- Yes.
- No drag allowed at Pride?
- Like, that is the
condition under which
they can have Pride at all.
they can have Pride at all.
- Mother, that's not
even making sense.
- The June date of Pride
celebrates this time
that trans people and
people dressed in drag
stood up and fought
against the police
stood up and fought
against the police
and against laws
that jeopardized
their ability to live
free lives and safe lives.
And that is playing out here.
And that is playing out here.
- I'm so mad because I'm like--
- You should be.
We all should be angry.
- I feel like--
- They should be angry.
- And I'm so mad
for the people that live here
and Norman specifically
because it's just like--
and Norman specifically
because it's just like--
I'm just going to, like,
shut up and take it then.
Because that's all I can get.
- If this Pride is back
and not in the full capacity,
with restrictions,
then is it Pride?
with restrictions,
then is it Pride?
- No, it's not.
- No, it's not Pride.
- It's not.
- Our show can be a reminder
of what Pride looks like when
it is not afraid to be q*eer.
it is not afraid to be q*eer.
All ages and visible and all--
- Very drag heavy.
- --all the things that Pride
is not allowed to be we're just
going to insist on being.
going to insist on being.
- I like that.
- So Pride is supposedly
back on in Murfreesboro.
But there is no drag.
And so that means
there is no Pride.
So we are going to drag
our gorgeous asses down
So we are going to drag
our gorgeous asses down
to City Hall to apply
for a permit for a sickening
drag show to let them know
exactly how proud we can be.
[upbeat music]
I think that it's
important to go in drag
I think that it's
important to go in drag
so that people can see
that there's really
no harm in being glamorous.
- ♪ To the left,
to the right ♪
♪ We be chillin',
but it's about to go down ♪
♪ We be chillin',
but it's about to go down ♪
♪ You know I ain't playing
and messing around ♪
- Test the waters and see how
the city might actually feel
about this drag show,
especially when you
see drag right in your face.
see drag right in your face.
Let us know how you're
really feeling, honey.
♪ ♪
- City Hall.
- Goodness gracious, Mother.
- Goodness gracious, Mother.
Here we go.
- Should we do
the stairs or elevator?
- Elevator.
- Elevator?
- We're too glam.
Be careful, Mother.
Be careful.
- OK.
Be careful.
- OK.
- You got it?
- We got it.
- Showing up
to City Hall in drag,
we're on the fine line of,
like, a police officer can say,
indecent, you're arrested.
It's like a ticking time b*mb.
It's like a ticking time b*mb.
But that's the point.
- Hello.
It's to make a statement.
We want to be visible.
We want to show that
we're here, literally.
Hello.
Hello.
- So we want to apply
for an event permit.
- Yes.
- We want to do
a drag queen show.
I know we are looking
like beautiful women.
I know we are looking
like beautiful women.
[whispering]
But we're drag queens.
Don't tell anyone.
And we wanted to bring
back Pride to Murfreesboro.
So what are the odds that
you think that this will
get approved?
get approved?
- It is a process.
It goes to the police,
the city manager.
- The police?
- Yes.
- The city manager
doesn't love drag.
- No.
- But we'll try.
But we'll try.
Right?
But we'll try.
Right?
- Yeah.
- We don't know.
- Fill out the application.
- OK.
- And then go
to the planning department.
- We're trying to
get to planning.
- Oh, it's locked.
- Oh, it's locked.
- Can we ask a question?
- He shook his head no.
- You got a credit card?
- [laughs]
- Applying for a permit,
- Applying for a permit,
doors get literally
shut in our faces
with no one willing
to talk to us.
But it's not going to stop us.
This show has to happen.
This show has to happen.
- Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.
- That was bad.
- Ah!
- Cinderella.
[laughs]
[laughs]
- Almost died and no
one even caught me.
You f*cking b*tch.
I thought we were sisters.
[country music]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- I'm on a quest
to find a drag daughter.
We want to empower
the local community here,
and these drag kids can
be a part of the fight.
and these drag kids can
be a part of the fight.
♪ ♪
- TWE, what's up?
- TWE, what's up?
[cheering]
Come on.
I can't hear you.
I said, what's up?
[cheering]
We're glad to be back
for another TWE Saturday night!
We're glad to be back
for another TWE Saturday night!
[cheering]
[dramatic music]
- Ooh.
- Ooh.
[crowd exclaiming]
[shouting]
- Get back in there!
- Quit whining.
- Ah!
- Quit whining.
- Ah!
- Oh!
[cheering]
- I am obsessed with wrestling.
[cheering]
I didn't get to play
with dolls growing up.
I didn't get to play
with dolls growing up.
I only got to play
with wrestling action figures.
So they were my dolls.
♪ ♪
- Whoo! Oh, no!
- Oh!
- We are in the splash zone.
- We are in the splash zone.
- I love it.
- Blood.
[crowd exclaims]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Oh my God.
- Three queens
watching wrestling?
Who would have thought?
- It's meant to be.
Who would have thought?
- It's meant to be.
- We appreciate all of you
coming out tonight to TWE.
Are you having fun?
- Yeah!
- Are you ready for some more?
[cheering]
[cheering]
Ladies and gentlemen--
- Totally!
- "Totally Plastic" Pha'Nesse!
[cheering]
[cheering]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- You better work, b*tch.
- You better work, b*tch.
You better work, b*tch!
♪ ♪
Whoo!
[cheering]
[cheering]
♪ ♪
- I cannot believe that there
is a g*y wrestler in this ring.
- I cannot believe that there
is a g*y wrestler in this ring.
- Get it, Pha'Nesse!
[crowd chanting]
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse,
Pha'Nesse,
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse,
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse.
[dramatic music]
[dramatic music]
♪ ♪
- You got it, Pha'Nesse.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Oh my God.
- Wait a minute.
- You better get back in.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[cheering]
- [screaming]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Wow.
Well, hello, everyone.
- Hi.
It smells like a drag
queen's dressing room.
It smells like a drag
queen's dressing room.
- Can we pull you out?
- Yeah.
- Thanks, y'all!
- Thank you.
[soft music]
- How are you feeling?
- I'm good.
- Does it hurt?
- It does, yeah.
- Does it hurt?
- It does, yeah.
But you know, you kind
of get used to it.
- You're kind of
different offstage.
You're such a low-key
normal person.
Up there you were a superhero.
Up there you were a superhero.
- Yeah, Pha'Nesse is really me
on, like, times 20, I guess.
- I think we all know
what that feels like.
- Exactly.
- Yeah.
- My name is Princey.
- My name is Princey.
And my character is
"Totally Plastic" Pha'Nesse,
or "To-tally Plastic"
Pha'Nesse.
♪ ♪
I feel like my safe
space in my life
is honestly inside
the wrestling ring.
Pha'Nesse is pretty
much all my fears kind
of being thrown out the window
and just putting this person
of being thrown out the window
and just putting this person
on stage who doesn't care.
But I don't really
have the chance to be
Pha'Nesse in my Princey life.
Pha'Nesse in my Princey life.
- Is this the only place
that they do wrestling?
- They do it other places,
too, but this is kind
of the more accepting place.
So I would come here
before anywhere else.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Yeah, I felt very accepting--
- Yeah.
- There are some locker
rooms and some wrestling
shows where I don't go just
because there are promoters
and there are some
wrestlers and fans
and there are some
wrestlers and fans
who are r*cist and h*m*.
- Where are you based out of?
- Nashville.
- OK.
- Yeah, really?
- Two hours.
- No way.
- I was like, wait a minute.
- I was like, wait a minute.
If you live in the city,
shouldn't it
be safer to be a q*eer person?
But you're saying
you're driving
two hours on the outskirts
to be accepted?
That is wild to me.
I couldn't even imagine it.
- These people are
like my family.
- These people are
like my family.
- Yeah.
- All the guys and
girls out there,
they mean the world to me.
- So here's the tea.
- What's that?
- We have a big
drag show coming up.
We're looking for a place.
- Yes, we are.
- Right now.
- And we're gathering
our daughters.
- We're gathering
our daughters.
- Seeing Princey as this
q*eer and open wrestler,
Princey has
to be my drag child.
[gasps]
My first drag daughter.
[gasps]
My first drag daughter.
He is very like, I just
am who I am in the ring.
And I'm like,
I feel like you could
be this person all the time.
I feel like it's who
you actually are.
I feel like it's who
you actually are.
So I think we need more
Pha'Nesse all the time.
- We'll be in touch.
- Totally.
- We're going to wrestle.
- Totally.
[all chanting]
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse,
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse!
Pha'Nesse, Pha'Nesse!
[soft music]
♪ ♪
- So where are we going?
- We're going to go to the
house that I grew up in.
- We're going to go to the
house that I grew up in.
- I'm excited.
- My godmom's there now.
- Your godmom, OK.
- Mm-hmm.
So growing up, I was born
with way more estrogen and not
really any testosterone.
But my mom never told me.
But my mom never told me.
So I went through so much
time trying to figure
out what's wrong with myself.
So after my mom passed,
my godmom was like,
So after my mom passed,
my godmom was like,
no one ever told
you what happened
or why you are the
way that you are?
And I was like, no,
what do you mean?
What are you talking about.
And then she told me,
and I just instantly, like,
And then she told me,
and I just instantly, like,
teared up.
And I was just like,
that is literally the siren
I needed to f*cking hear.
♪ ♪
- These pictures
right here, who was
- These pictures
right here, who was
all lined up in these photos?
- I'm in the burgundy.
- OK.
- And then my--
- Looking stunning.
- My sister Gloria,
she's in the teal.
- My sister Gloria,
she's in the teal.
- Does she know
about the situation
with the estrogen and--
- That is a
question for godmom.
Did Dobie know?
- What?
- What?
- Did the whole family
know about how I
was born and stuff like that?
- Yes.
Gloria actually was at the
doctor's appointment too.
- OK, yeah.
Oh, wow.
- She was actually
at the doctor's appointment.
- She was actually
at the doctor's appointment.
Sheila, Maleeka's mom,
was worried when he was--
actually, I'm going
to say Maleek.
- You can, yeah.
- When Maleek was a baby,
you know, she kept saying,
- When Maleek was a baby,
you know, she kept saying,
I think something's
going on with Maleek.
He's not growing.
He's not, you know, like
I think he should be
He's not, you know, like
I think he should be
and all this kind
of stuff, you know.
And of course--
[somber music]
- My thoughts growing up was,
why does this look like that?
- My thoughts growing up was,
why does this look like that?
Why do I have boobs?
Where did this butt come from?
♪ ♪
And then as far
as below the waist,
I spent so much time,
an unbelievable amount
I spent so much time,
an unbelievable amount
of time, trying to figure out
what the hell was going on.
♪ ♪
For the longest,
I was just feeling
For the longest,
I was just feeling
so lost because I was like,
I don't know where I belong.
♪ ♪
- I think we just
thought, OK, maybe
Maleeka would develop more.
Maleeka would develop more.
And you know-- so I think
that's why we didn't
really ever say anything else.
Until she came out, we really
didn't talk a lot about it.
Until she came out, we really
didn't talk a lot about it.
Of course, we all changed
diapers and stuff,
and we was like, yeah,
something ain't quite right.
So we was like, OK, let's make
some doctor's appointments.
So we was like, OK, let's make
some doctor's appointments.
And actually,
they had suggested
that she could have surgery.
Sheila was like, no,
because she was like, no,
Sheila was like, no,
because she was like, no,
we brought Maleek home.
We can't do that.
And what-- you
know, the stigma--
what would people say?
What would people think?
What would people think?
There was a chance that she
could have Maleek changed,
surgery and things to be done.
But hers was,
what would people think?
But hers was,
what would people think?
You know, I brought
this son home.
♪ ♪
Now I'm going to
have to do surgery?
Now I'm going to
have to do surgery?
And you know, in
society, people don't
understand a lot of that.
No one else knew.
No one else knew.
No one else knew.
♪ ♪
- When we put this show
together, when you hit
- When we put this show
together, when you hit
that stage in the
spotlight and everybody
is centered and focused on you.
- Oh my God.
- Nothing else matters
but you having a moment
- Nothing else matters
but you having a moment
that you deserve the most--
the most.
Every one of us deserves to
have a day to remind us that we
are all extremely special.
are all extremely special.
- And you're worth it.
- And that you're worth it.
- Yeah.
- Fully.
A lot of underlying
things are not
being discussed with Maleeka.
being discussed with Maleeka.
It feels as though there is
another layer to her story
that she's not had a
discussion with anyone about
that she's not had a
discussion with anyone about
and that she might not be
comfortable with sharing.
It is a very
delicate situation.
But I'm feeling like there's
some research for me to do
because I want for her to
walk away from this experience
because I want for her to
walk away from this experience
feeling like she has a better
understanding of herself
and that she
doesn't feel alone.
♪ ♪
- ♪ La la, la la ♪
- ♪ La la, la la ♪
♪ La la, la la ♪
- I have the ordinances,
city ordinances.
- City ordinances.
- Ordinance 23-O-22
"promotes public decency,
- Ordinance 23-O-22
"promotes public decency,
"maintains family-friendly
environments in public places
"and protects against
harm to minors
"from public
expressions appealing
to prurient interests"--
to prurient interests"--
- What is that?
- --"or that are
offensive to prevailing
community standards."
Like, you need to be
protected from anything
that society at average
deems offensive even.
that society at average
deems offensive even.
- They come up
with this ordinance
directly after the drag
ban being struck down.
It just feels very fishy.
It just feels very fishy.
The law is very gray.
I think this
ordinance could cause
real trouble for
us and the show
that we're planning to put on.
- I feel like it'd be a pretty
big reach to say that we
- I feel like it'd be a pretty
big reach to say that we
are truly being indecent.
But then again, the city
manager and the chief of police
But then again, the city
manager and the chief of police
decide when something
is indecent.
It seems so inconsistent.
And, like, this possibility
that we are breaking the law
And, like, this possibility
that we are breaking the law
is actually following
us around all the time.
We want to push back
against unfair limitations,
but we don't want
to be arrested.
We don't want our drag
daughters who we're looking
We don't want our drag
daughters who we're looking
after to be exposed to danger.
- Let's call
the chief of police.
[phone line trilling]
- Good morning.
Murfreesboro Police.
- Hello.
- Hello.
I was just calling because
we have some questions
on the indecency ordinances.
Is there someone that I
could talk to with a couple
questions for more details?
questions for more details?
- Sure. Hang on a second.
[soft music]
- Hello there.
I'm with a group of people
who are interested in putting
on a drag show
performance in town,
but we were reading through the
community decency standards.
And I was wondering
if you could give us
a little clarity as to what
would count as indecency
a little clarity as to what
would count as indecency
by Murfreesboro law.
- Does drag count as indecency?
- Does drag count as indecency?
- Is it about nudity
or sexual content?
Could you say that?
Could you say that?
- I have the law printed
out in front of me.
The only thing it
says is "prurient
The only thing it
says is "prurient
"interest or offensive
to prevailing
community standards."
Like for example,
if someone called you guys
and said there's something
indecent happening,
and said there's something
indecent happening,
and you came to the drag show,
would you shut us down?
- Is it drag?
Is it if I'm wearing
a "just be g*y" shirt?
Is it if I have earrings on?
Is it if I have earrings on?
Is it if I'm wearing
makeup as a boy?
What is it?
No one actually
knows the rules.
It's basically like, ah, if
we're feeling h*m* today,
we'll arrest you.
- I think that's
what's freaking us out
because it seems so vague.
because it seems so vague.
It's purposefully confusing.
Even if they don't know for
sure if they are committing
a crime, the threat of actually
being arrested and convicted
of a crime is very serious.
of a crime is very serious.
It's clear that
the real battle is
about making drag
invisible, about making
q*eer and trans people afraid.
We want to bust open that
threat with this drag show.
We want to bust open that
threat with this drag show.
- There is a city council
meeting where people are going
to express their feelings
about our presence,
the drag shows that
we want to put on,
the drag shows that
we want to put on,
and indecency in general.
So we are going
to show up, and I
want us to continue to push
the envelope in these rooms
where they typically
don't see drag
where they typically
don't see drag
and finally see what
is going on here.
How do these people actually
feel about all these things?
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- [gasps]
Look!
This is so cool!
This is so cool!
- [laughs]
- Oh my gosh, I've never
been in a ring before.
[gasps]
- This is where you're
training all the time?
- Yeah, pretty much.
Yeah.
- Yeah, pretty much.
Yeah.
- Wow.
- Learn how to
become Pha'Nesse.
- Hello.
- It's cool, isn't it?
- It's so cool.
It's really hot in here.
Hello.
- Hello, I'm Carrie.
- Carrie?
- Yes.
- Nice to meet you.
- This is my coach.
He, like, taught me
the wrestling stuff.
He, like, taught me
the wrestling stuff.
And then he taught me
the promo side of things.
- OK.
So you're like--
you're like the manager
who comes out in the sexy
outfit and is like, boom!
who comes out in the sexy
outfit and is like, boom!
- That's you.
- I have done that
several times.
Yes.
Yeah, so we-- it's sort
of a-- it's a tandem.
- Wrestling is
really cool, right?
- Wrestling is
really cool, right?
We use, like, physical action
and pageantry and emotions
and crowd interactions.
- You have to know theater.
You have to know athletics.
Everything in here is a dance.
Everything in here is a dance.
And if you're one step off,
it could literally
be the difference of the
coolest thing you've ever seen
or a broken neck.
- Can I do something,
clothesline somebody
- Can I do something,
clothesline somebody
or, like, bounce off the rope?
- I wouldn't get
too crazy with them.
Look at you.
- Yeow--it's like--
I'm like in a video game.
Don't you think? Ah!
Don't you think? Ah!
- See if you can
do it in two steps.
- Two steps?
- One, two, turn.
One, two, turn.
Lock it in.
- I have nails on.
- It's fine.
- It's fine.
- [screams]
Don't disrespect your mother!
- He's going to
start standing up.
Crank that elbow
and give me a yell.
- [screams]
- Crank that elbow!
He's going to jump
right over you.
He's going to jump
right over you.
He's going to jump
right over you.
Boom.
And then lock it.
There you go!
There you go!
Yes.
- The louder you get,
the better it is.
- Throw it like you mean it!
- Agh!
- Agh!
♪ ♪
- Turn around
and celebrate, big.
Kick him while he's down.
Nice, nice.
- I did it!
OK, OK.
Let me help-- let me
help my daughter up.
Let me help-- let me
help my daughter up.
[dog barking]
How are you feeling?
- Really good.
- This is really
where I learned
from, like, the ground up.
- That's wild.
This is like your drag room?
- That's wild.
This is like your drag room?
- Hydration.
- Pretty much.
- The beginning
of your drag career?
- Pretty much.
- Wait, your wrestling career.
I keep calling
wrestling "drag."
- I feel like
they're so similar,
it doesn't even
matter, honestly.
it doesn't even
matter, honestly.
- How do you feel about space
for q*eer people in wrestling?
- I feel like it's gotten
way better than it was,
like, you know, 20 years ago.
A person like me, I would be,
like, the scaredy cat,
A person like me, I would be,
like, the scaredy cat,
or they would
make me fight just
females and all this stuff.
And so the fact that I get to
be a real competitor and show,
And so the fact that I get to
be a real competitor and show,
hey, I worked hard for this.
I'm just as good as
the straight wrestlers
or just anybody.
Wrestling has saved my life,
and so did the fans.
I can't be weak because I have
so many people supporting me.
I can't be weak because I have
so many people supporting me.
- Yeah, it seems like people
are super excited to see you
in the ring because they're
seeing a person who is,
in the ring because they're
seeing a person who is,
like, 100% confident.
- Yeah.
Honestly, it's hard to channel
that in my everyday life.
I guess because I'm
not in my makeup.
I'm not in my gear.
I'm not in my gear.
I'm not-- I don't have
a room full of people
chanting, Pha'Nesse,
Pha'Nesse or Totally.
And so it's just like--
and so it's kind of hard to
pull that out of Princey.
and so it's kind of hard to
pull that out of Princey.
- Right.
- I knew I was g*y when I
was in elementary school.
So I was kind of like,
I don't want anybody to know.
And I felt like I
couldn't turn it off,
And I felt like I
couldn't turn it off,
so I just kind of stayed quiet.
I honestly never tried
to bring "Totally Plastic"
Pha'Nesse into Princey's life.
Shy Princey still comes into
play outside of the ring.
Shy Princey still comes into
play outside of the ring.
- This whole alter ego
thing is relatable.
[soft music]
Growing up in a suburb full of
conservative type of people,
Growing up in a suburb full of
conservative type of people,
I was being told, oh, you
can't talk like a girl.
You can't walk like a girl.
Boys don't listen to girl music
or watch girl TV shows.
Boys don't listen to girl music
or watch girl TV shows.
And I believed it all.
I was like, yeah, exactly.
This is right
and that's wrong,
until you become an adult.
And you can't suppress
who you are forever.
And I remember that when
I first started drag,
And I remember that when
I first started drag,
I was like, whoa.
All the things that
I subconsciously
suppressed growing
up finally came out,
which is just being who I am.
which is just being who I am.
I'm excited to,
like, talk to you
after you do the performance.
Because for me,
drag is the one thing that
made me fully find myself.
And I really wonder
if, like, it's going
And I really wonder
if, like, it's going
to be the same thing for you.
- I hope so.
Sometimes I just
try to just get by,
you know, just
by being Princey.
you know, just
by being Princey.
- Well, it is hard
because it is scary.
Like, it's 30 minutes
from where we're sitting.
The town you're in,
safe as can be.
you can't be out after dark.
you can't be out after dark.
That's the reality
of the state that we live in.
Everything that you are is
under attack in Tennessee.
Everything that you are is
under attack in Tennessee.
- I've seen crowds
do unethical things--
pull knives on people,
backwoods scary people,
crazy sh*t.
And Princey still goes out
there to these hillbilly towns,
And Princey still goes out
there to these hillbilly towns,
smile on Princey's face.
- I do think
that you're special.
And I think you're special
enough that if you did it more,
that you would change
the lives of people
who you never even meet.
- Yeah.
- Princey and Brian, that
relationship is the type
of relationship you used to
see on sitcoms growing up--
of relationship you used to
see on sitcoms growing up--
you know, how different they
look, how different they are.
Brian's straight,
white, country.
And then you got Princey, who's
this like Black, q*eer person
And then you got Princey, who's
this like Black, q*eer person
who loves Megan Thee Stallion.
This mentorship,
this is so beautiful.
- When I built
this place, it was
- When I built
this place, it was
so I didn't have to train
in a backwoods h*m*
f*cking town.
♪ ♪
So when you hear sh*t like,
it saved your life--
So when you hear sh*t like,
it saved your life--
I don't know, man.
What a gift you just gave me.
That's f*cking heavy, bro.
[sniffling]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- ♪ Repeat after me ♪
♪ Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha ♪
[upbeat music]
- Murfreesboro
city government is
more interested
in creating obstacles
more interested
in creating obstacles
than in helping people.
But this drag show
needs to happen.
We will deal
with the consequences
no matter what they say.
- This is cute.
- It's cute.
- It's cute.
- Main Street Music,
close to the square.
- You can see the
square a little bit
from there, the clocktower.
Everyone that's
going to the square
is going to have to see it
outside, rainbows everywhere.
And it'll be like,
all ages, drag show.
And it'll be like,
all ages, drag show.
- Yeah.
I'm so excited.
We need to have all
ages drag shows.
- Oh, this is nice.
- Ooh.
- People of all ages
begin to realize that they
- People of all ages
begin to realize that they
are q*eer themselves.
- Big stage.
- I was desperate to see
drag when I was a teenager.
- OK, work.
Work the space.
Work the space.
- To see that q*eer
adults had a future,
had a place where they
belong, it changed my life.
- Queerness is
something that should
be celebrated by everybody.
You don't have to be g*y or
l*sbian or trans or nonbinary.
You don't have to be g*y or
l*sbian or trans or nonbinary.
- Drag is amazing.
Drag is beautiful.
Drag will make you happy.
- This space is awesome.
♪ Yeah, Murfreesboro ♪
♪ Yeah, Murfreesboro ♪
♪ You can't ban drag because
I'm right here, b*tch ♪
[microphone feedback
screeches]
[upbeat music]
[upbeat music]
♪ ♪
- What did you say?
- I said, our dogs stay stoned.
- Oh.
- Well, it's a chihuahua, so--
- It needs to be stoned.
- It needs to be stoned.
- It's not that it's stoned.
It brings it down
to normal level.
- [laughs]
OK.
- Hey!
- How are you?
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
Come in, come in.
- Ooh.
- Hi, I'm Sasha.
Nice to meet you.
What's your name?
- Matt.
- Matt.
- I'm his little brother.
- You're his little brother?
- God, no way.
- I'm the mother.
- I'm the mother.
- The mother!
- Oh, I'm so happy to meet you.
- That's the other
brother over there--
- Oh, nice.
- --the one with the gold
chain around his neck.
- I see.
- I see.
- What's this game called?
- Cornhole.
- It's quite a name.
- You're crossing your
body because you're
going from here to there.
- So go straight.
- So go straight, yeah.
- Go straight, everyone
in Murfreesboro says.
- Go straight, everyone
in Murfreesboro says.
- Ah!
Whoo!
- OK. Wow.
- Have you seen Norman in drag?
- Have you seen Norman in drag?
- I have, yeah.
- And you have too?
- Oh, yeah.
- At a show?
- I ain't been to
one of his shows.
I was telling Matthew.
- I went to a show for the
first time a couple of
months ago.
- What'd you think?
- It was different.
- It was different.
You know?
It's a whole new experience.
I mean, I had a lot of fun.
Don't get me wrong.
- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- What was your experience
growing up with a g*y brother?
- I didn't look at
him as being g*y.
He was just, like, a little
more friendly than everybody.
He was just, like, a little
more friendly than everybody.
- Sure.
- Halloweens he always
enjoyed dressing up,
a couple of times Boy Scouts
on the front of the floating
Barbie in the middle.
You know?
You know?
You know, things like that.
- He's always been true
to himself, you know?
Caleb is a protector.
Norman was my
protector growing up.
He always wanted to
make sure that we
He always wanted to
make sure that we
were comfortable
and taken care of
and had stuff that we needed.
- Yeah, he's been
down a long road.
Obviously, I've seen come in,
been beat up before,
you know, just for
being who he was
you know, just for
being who he was
and not hide everything, so.
- Do you guys consider
yourself to be
supporters of the g*y community
generally beyond Norman?
- Well, and I'm going to be
honest with you in that area.
- Well, and I'm going to be
honest with you in that area.
I'm not going to say that
I am just fully in support
of the g*y community
because I do believe in God
and I believe in Jesus Christ.
But I believe we all
have different ways
of walking through this life.
- Do you view it as a sin?
- Well--
- Is it in that term?
- Is it in that term?
- I do.
I'll-- honestly, I do.
And like I say, of course,
but that's what I've read
and what I've studied.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- He always did, like,
the makeup, the fancy costumes.
- When did you realize
that he might be g*y?
- Actually, I had friends
that told me they thought he
- Actually, I had friends
that told me they thought he
was when he was in his teens.
But I didn't come out--
I actually came out
and asked him when he was 18.
- Wow.
- And that was when I
finally had to admit.
- And that was when I
finally had to admit.
And at that time, I was not
as gracious as I am now.
I can admit that.
When he was 18, I actually
point-blank asked him,
When he was 18, I actually
point-blank asked him,
do you consider yourself g*y?
I told him.
I said, I will love
you no matter what,
but I don't want to be
a part of that lifestyle.
but I don't want to be
a part of that lifestyle.
And I remember standing
right there by the door,
and he said, yes, Mom, I am.
[soft music]
I looked at him,
and I told him,
I looked at him,
and I told him,
you can't live in my house.
♪ ♪
And he left.
I am a Christian mother.
And I still don't necessarily
believe that h*m*
And I still don't necessarily
believe that h*m*
is the way to go.
But I never would stop loving
my son, no matter what he did.
But I never would stop loving
my son, no matter what he did.
♪ ♪
- I love the sunglasses there.
- Those are cute sunglasses.
- I love my family
tremendously.
- I love my family
tremendously.
And so for me, it was
kind of that rejection
and that you're
not worthy of us
I've strived to overcome for
the past 20 some odd years--
I've strived to overcome for
the past 20 some odd years--
- Do you sing?
- A little bit.
- Oh my goodness.
- I do sing at church.
- --the "you're all sinners
and you're all going to hell."
- --the "you're all sinners
and you're all going to hell."
♪ ♪
- I think Norm thinks
that many people love him,
but it comes with
all these conditions.
Like, how can you reconcile
loving someone with thinking
Like, how can you reconcile
loving someone with thinking
that they are going to hell?
- The battles that it's been
for the past 20-plus years,
- The battles that it's been
for the past 20-plus years,
the mindset that if you're
not exactly like them,
you don't belong--
So that's super exciting.
--that's how it is
here in this area.
--that's how it is
here in this area.
♪ ♪
I don't think they want to
believe that we're here.
Let's silence them
so that they're
not harassing our children.
not harassing our children.
And that is horrible.
[chatter]
- I was a fan of wrestling
ever since I was in diapers.
- I was a fan of wrestling
ever since I was in diapers.
We'd sit around the TVs
watching it every Monday
or every Friday it came on.
That was a huge part
of my life growing up.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
Being my authentic
self in public,
it is a little
scary to think about
just because you never know
what's going to
happen, honestly.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
The person I found support
with the most was my mom.
She was always behind me.
She passed away
just November 2020.
She passed away
just November 2020.
Sometimes I feel like I can
feel her presence still.
At times I do feel alone and
isolated just because the fact
that we are in the South,
and there are
that we are in the South,
and there are
still problems like racism.
Somebody could yell a slur.
I could be attacked just by
trying to live my genuine self.
I could be attacked just by
trying to live my genuine self.
I try not to venture out
just out of fear of rejection
and not really talk
to many new people.
It kind of stops me
from me being myself
It kind of stops me
from me being myself
within my own community.
I'm probably one
of the only male wrestlers
who wears makeup to the ring.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
So if I can't be myself
in my own community,
I feel like it
will be even harder
to be myself outside of my
own community in Tennessee.
to be myself outside of my
own community in Tennessee.
[chatter]
[upbeat rock music]
[upbeat rock music]
♪ ♪
- Seeing the support that
Brian gives Princey, you
hear the word "ally" all
the time, and they're like,
hear the word "ally" all
the time, and they're like,
OK, we get it.
You like g*y people.
Cool.
But seeing this
genuine connection,
it makes me be like, oh, wow.
It would be so cool to
have a Brian in your life.
It would be so cool to
have a Brian in your life.
This is Tennessee.
The door's open.
Yep.
I knew it.
How are you?
- I actually tell
all of my friends
not to knock because
if you knock,
I'm going to know that
I don't want you here.
- You don't lock your door?
- No.
- You don't lock your door?
- No.
- What?
- For what?
What are they going to do?
- Well--
- Everybody's at
home protecting
their g*ns and whatnot.
They're fine.
- Right.
- [laughs]
- It's been so interesting
meeting you, meeting Princey.
- It's been so interesting
meeting you, meeting Princey.
You were like super,
super, super emotional
about hearing that wrestling
has saved someone's life.
about hearing that wrestling
has saved someone's life.
- So cool.
For someone like Princey
to be able to find
happiness because of
something that I built,
that is everything to me.
that is everything to me.
I spent so many years unhappy,
and I know that there's
an avenue for every single
person on this planet,
an avenue for every single
person on this planet,
even the sh*t heels, to get
to a place of happiness.
- What is your advice
to people who, like, are
on the cusp of being
an ally and not being
an ally and beliefs and--
an ally and beliefs and--
- It's so tough.
It's hard to tell someone
to get over their fear.
- Right.
So as an ally, you also
feel like your life
is threatened too?
- Oh, yeah.
is threatened too?
- Oh, yeah.
- OK.
- Exponentially more
the louder I am.
Princey was training,
and we were doing a match.
It got very bad.
- What happened?
- What happened?
- That night, I had a whole
town of people who specifically
wanted to hurt me
because I had stood
up against h*m* slurs.
up against h*m* slurs.
- Whoa.
- It's a scary f*cking
time to be in Tennessee.
Murfreesboro and other
cities around this area,
Murfreesboro and other
cities around this area,
there are a lot of people.
They're doing things
based out of fear.
They're not living in reality.
They live in a broken
bubble where drag queens are
They live in a broken
bubble where drag queens are
their enemy and are an absolute
threat to society somehow,
and they believe it.
and they believe it.
I mean, I can't imagine
how it must be for you.
It's f*cking terrifying.
You shouldn't have to
live in fear of your life
because you're
walking down the road.
because you're
walking down the road.
- Exactly.
- And if we're not speaking up,
we're never going to get there.
- No. No, we aren't.
Brian is so fascinating to me.
Brian is so fascinating to me.
When you're living
here and you feel
all this resistance
from everyone
around you all the time--
then you meet
someone like Brian.
He loves so loudly
and so unapologetically
He loves so loudly
and so unapologetically
that I feel like everybody here
in Tennessee could take a note.
I have a proposition for you.
- I'm listening.
- I think we should consider
putting you up in drag.
- I think we should consider
putting you up in drag.
- Um, I've never--
I've never-- I've never
thought about that.
I've never-- I've never
thought about that.
- For a lot of people,
seeing a straight white man
that loves wrestling--
- Yeah.
- --seeing him be so
confident, like, yeah,
I'll put on a wig,
whatever, will shake
I'll put on a wig,
whatever, will shake
up some sh*t in this state.
- Um-- I know there's a lot of
people out there who are just
like me, who are on the
fence and they're a little
bit scared of the climate.
- It's like being a wrestler
and putting on a persona.
- It's like being a wrestler
and putting on a persona.
You just get to escape.
But now we're just going to
put lashes and a wig on you.
- I think I would need some
very talented people around me
to make me not look
like a hot mess.
to make me not look
like a hot mess.
- Ha, ha!
- We have the potential to
be protectors, to be allies,
to be the ones who
institute the change.
to be the ones who
institute the change.
- Mm-hmm.
Well, I think that this
is my official invitation
to you to be my drag child.
- Aww.
- Even though you are daddy,
today I am your mother.
- Even though you are daddy,
today I am your mother.
[laughs]
- It's amazing.
- ♪ Ain't nobody
do it like this ♪
♪ Like this ♪
- Wow. My daughter.
- Wow. My daughter.
I never thought I'd have a
daughter that looks like you.
My baby.
- Oh, sh*t.
I got to shave, huh?
- Yeah, you got to shave--
and shower, too.
- Yeah, you got to shave--
and shower, too.
- That's fine.
- And shower.
- OK.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Maleeka,
this is Veronica Paige.
- Hi, Maleeka.
I love your eyelashes.
- Thank you.
- This is my drag
daughter Princey.
- Hi.
- The drag bus is a great
opportunity for all of us
- The drag bus is a great
opportunity for all of us
to get together.
- Welcome to the Big Drag Bus.
- I love drag.
- Let's go, then!
- This is going to open
their eyes to the art of drag
and let them feel that
sense of community.
and let them feel that
sense of community.
- Please welcome to
the bus Tracey Ottomey!
[cheering]
- ♪ You got
that bad girl pose ♪
♪ You got that swagger, girl ♪
♪ You got that swagger, girl ♪
♪ You got that
supersonic freeze ♪
♪ Then do a twirl ♪
- Give it up for Perplexity!
[cheering]
[cheering]
♪ ♪
- Everyone up out
of their seat.
Let's party!
Let's party!
- ♪ You got that ♪
♪ You got that ♪
♪ You got that ♪
♪ You got that ♪
♪ You got that
supersonic pose ♪
- I love your dress!
- I love your dress!
- ♪ You got that,
you got that ♪
- I'm going to pee myself.
I'm going to pee myself.
♪ ♪
- Are you all ready
for some more drag?
- Hell yeah!
- Hell yeah!
- All right.
So you're going to get to
strut your stuff up and down
the aisle of a moving vehicle.
And what's your name?
- I'm Norman.
- Norman.
Hi, Norman.
- Norman.
Hi, Norman.
Is this is your first
time to a drag show?
- No.
- No?
- I'm a performer.
- What's your drag name?
- Veronica Paige.
- Veronica Paige?
That's you?
- Yes, that's me.
- Holy sh*t.
- Holy sh*t.
- Drag was what helped me
see that I have to be myself.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Every day, waking up and
choosing yourself and choosing
to be who you are
is hard, especially
in a community where people
are set on silencing you.
in a community where people
are set on silencing you.
♪ ♪
- When the world hasn't
had space for us,
- When the world hasn't
had space for us,
drag made space for us.
It's this tradition
that we've created
to nurture an acceptance
of our queerness.
to nurture an acceptance
of our queerness.
♪ ♪
Maybe we do look and act
a little differently.
And that's just as deserving
of equal rights
And that's just as deserving
of equal rights
as everyone else.
People like Norm realize that.
They are the heart
of a town like Murfreesboro.
They are the heart
of a town like Murfreesboro.
- Sometimes you have to
have an opportunity to see
yourself in another light.
Doing this performance
is going to be
the light that Maleeka
needs to see the beauty that
the light that Maleeka
needs to see the beauty that
is within herself.
- For Princey, we're going to
have, like, this breakthrough.
- Being in drag is
feeling powerful.
- Being in drag is
feeling powerful.
And I'm feeling like
I can do anything.
♪ ♪
- You had a good time, Brian?
- Yes.
- You had a good time, Brian?
- Yes.
I got my cardio in.
- Yeah!
- I got to dance
with my man Princey.
What's better than that?
I don't dance, so that was new.
- What do you normally do?
- Oh, I stand--
- What do you normally do?
- Oh, I stand--
- When the music--
- I stand there and watch
the beautiful people dance.
- Well, now you're one
of the beautiful people!
[cheering]
- I appreciate that.
- How did you
like the drag bus?
- How did you
like the drag bus?
- I freaking loved it.
That was f*cking awesome.
- Yeah, it was fun.
- Let's keep going.
Let's keep going.
[laughs]
- It was so nice to
gather all the drag kids.
- It was so nice to
gather all the drag kids.
The family that they make
through this experience
isn't just us, their drag moms.
It's finding each other.
It's going to be so important
in continuing to push
It's going to be so important
in continuing to push
back and find life and joy.
- That was so good.
- That was good.
- That was so good.
- That was good.
- Thank you.
- I love watching drag queens.
- Yeah.
- I love it.
When they tried to
pass that drag ban law,
I think the first thing
that the three of us
thought about was like,
what about the local queens?
What are they going to do?
What are they going to do?
- Yeah.
- It was terrifying.
This is our--
this is my only job.
- OK.
- I mean, I literally
thought, this is the end.
- I worried about the
safety of all of our girls
- I worried about the
safety of all of our girls
we work with every day.
Us going out in the world, we
didn't know how they were going
to react to the bus itself.
- You could see people's
attitudes change towards us
on the street.
I mean, they would
flip us the bird.
I mean, they would
flip us the bird.
They would yell insults at us.
There was a guy just
maybe three weeks ago.
He yells, God hates f*gs, at
us, with a bus full of people.
He yells, God hates f*gs, at
us, with a bus full of people.
And he's wearing a shirt that
says "Jesus saves" on it.
- We're in the Bible Belt,
and this is the way it is.
It's the way it
always has been,
and that's the way
it's going to be.
and that's the way
it's going to be.
- The state that made
Dolly Parton is like this.
- They're in the
w*r zone, literally.
- You're probably
changing people's
minds every single day.
- That makes the job worth it.
- That makes the job worth it.
- Yeah.
- That makes the
anxiety go away
to hear y'all say that to us.
- So we're trying to do a big
drag show in Murfreesboro,
where Pride was canceled.
where Pride was canceled.
Did you hear about that?
- Murfreesboro needs that.
- It'd be amazing if the
queens from Nashville
can come to support our little
drag family in Murfreesboro.
can come to support our little
drag family in Murfreesboro.
- So many people that are
afraid to show face or even
come out, and I think,
like, doing this drag show,
we're going to hopefully
draw those people out.
And we would love
if y'all would
And we would love
if y'all would
come and be there with us.
- I would love it.
[soft music]
[soft music]
♪ ♪
- Take me up there--
- Yes, if you come closer.
- No, come on out.
- No, because this is slippery
and I'm not trying to get
wet, wet.
Maleeka, this is slippery.
♪ ♪
- Here we go.
- You just want to drop it
right here for right now?
- Hold this.
- Watch that f*cking oar.
- Watch that f*cking oar.
- Hey, Mother.
- Hello, beautiful.
How are you?
- Good.
- I'm so wet.
Are you sure--
- It's fine.
I want to give you a hug.
I want to give you a hug.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- So what's the vibe?
- So we're just
hanging out and being--
she was going to
hop on the grill,
and then John was going
to talk sh*t on the side.
So.
- Talk sh*t.
- You know.
- I live.
- You know.
- I live.
It sounds like a family.
- Yes.
This is the lake that I ran
to when I ran away from home.
- Yeah.
- I was bad off on
drugs, whatever.
So this is like my second home.
This is one of the
places where I would come
This is one of the
places where I would come
and just recharge and
get my mind together
and stuff like that.
- You've been obviously been
there for the transition
and everything like that.
Have y'all seen perception
from, like, family
Have y'all seen perception
from, like, family
or friends or everybody?
Like--
- Family or friends
is more accepting.
- Yeah.
- It's more of the public that
has an issue most of the time.
The town definitely
is a rumor field.
So that was the hardest part
I've seen her go through.
So that was the hardest part
I've seen her go through.
But she fights it hard.
It's been five years since
I've been out, and it was hard.
I lost my family,
some of my friends.
I lost my family,
some of my friends.
Church all disowned me quick.
So it's not easy down here.
But you make a family,
and you hold on to those
because they're
ones who matter.
because they're
ones who matter.
- Oh, yeah.
- Yeah.
- Oh, yeah.
♪ ♪
- Let's sit down.
I like the flamingo.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- I want to know more
tea about, like--
- Our dynamic?
- --y'all's dynamic.
- This girl sees all
my flaws and accepts
me to be her best friend.
me to be her best friend.
I mean, I have a lot of flaws.
Who doesn't?
So--
- John.
- And I mean, John has
seen my below half,
and you know how
sacred that is to me.
and you know how
sacred that is to me.
And I just full blown out
was like, b*tch, look.
He was just like, oh my God.
And I was like, yeah,
you know what I mean?
- Sometimes we're too
comfortable with each other.
- Yeah, yeah.
- He showed me
how to be way more
comfortable in my everyday life
when I second guess myself.
Him and my friends have always
been there to like, nah, b*tch.
You know what I mean?
You know what I mean?
- Love you, b*tch.
- [laughs]
- I don't want to ever
make any assumptions
about who Maleeka is.
about who Maleeka is.
But from context that I'm
receiving from Maleeka
and from her family,
it feels like there's
something with Maleeka
that she wants to share.
something with Maleeka
that she wants to share.
But she might not
know how to share it.
Well, there's something
that I was wanting
to talk to you about recently.
Because before you
made mention of your--
Because before you
made mention of your--
I don't know if you even
know where I'm going.
- I don't.
- But Roxy was like, even y'all
both have even talked in this,
like, about--
like, about--
sort of about the secret that
your family had with you.
And if you don't want to talk
about it, I'm telling you 100%,
we don't even have
to bother with that
we don't even have
to bother with that
or touch it or none of that.
Like, for real.
I know for every person,
it's, like, so different.
And I don't feel
like even parts
And I don't feel
like even parts
are even important to your
story, You know what I mean?
but more so about how that
makes you feel mentally.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
It was a very challenging
thing because the same way
that people knew
me for one way,
I knew myself for one way too.
I knew myself for one way too.
- Yeah.
- I knew things were different,
but I was already comfortable
with the difference.
I just didn't know that it was
going to progress after I hit
puberty, which is what they
had told my mom and my godmom,
was after I hit puberty
it was going to change.
was after I hit puberty
it was going to change.
But because I didn't know that,
I wasn't ready for the changes,
and it was just like--
I was sort of angry with
my family for a little bit,
and I've never told
them this before.
Only because I struggled
with that for so long,
Only because I struggled
with that for so long,
I didn't know myself.
I didn't know how to live
with myself like that.
Like, I was disgusted with me.
Just as much as the
world is, I was, too.
Just as much as the
world is, I was, too.
- Yeah.
I know right now it's,
like, a lot in your world
right now about--
right now about--
as far as your gender and
everything like that is going.
But, like, I don't know if--
have you even heard of possibly
what it's like to be intersex?
- Yeah.
But that's what I've been--
But that's what I've been--
so I'm still studying
and still researching
everything about myself.
- When you were
younger, did you--
was that something
that sat in your mind?
was that something
that sat in your mind?
- No, I had no idea.
I had no idea up until
a couple of months
before my godmom
finally told me,
I had already been researching.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- And that's exactly what
slid across my screen.
I was like, f*ck.
There's no way.
There's no way.
So I pushed it back in the
back of my head, kept going.
And then that's when my
godmom hit me with the facts.
And I was just like--
that's why I got so breathless.
- Yeah.
- Like, this is real.
Whew.
Whew.
- Do you still feel now you
find it hard to still accept?
- It's very hard.
- It's very hard.
It's very hard to watch
myself because I feel
like I didn't have a choice.
- Yeah.
Have you found other
resources around you?
Or have you ever
explored options to find
Or have you ever
explored options to find
people who are like you?
- I won't let myself.
Like, for me to tell someone
about this is a very big thing.
I will let people bash me for
being trans, thinking that I
I will let people bash me for
being trans, thinking that I
was built one way rather than
telling them my true story
just because I just
won't let myself
publicly say that out loud.
publicly say that out loud.
- The amount of things that
you've been through, and then
on top of this
have to walk around
and feel like you're carrying
a secret everywhere you go--
and feel like you're carrying
a secret everywhere you go--
- f*ck.
[chuckles]
- You might not want
to say it out loud,
- You might not want
to say it out loud,
but I think the main thing
about that is that if you are
constantly by yourself in this,
there is no
way for you to--
like, there is no
way for you to come past this.
way for you to come past this.
I know that this was
not easy for her.
To be able to say it
without saying it just
To be able to say it
without saying it just
feels like a very
brave thing to do.
I think it's been on
her mind and her heart
that she wants to share it.
I think it's very important
that we connect her
I think it's very important
that we connect her
with someone who knows
a lot about being intersex so
that she can find
a sense of community
and feel like she's
on a right path.
and feel like she's
on a right path.
[upbeat music]
- Hello.
- Hello.
How are you all doing?
- Hey.
How are you all doing?
- Hey.
We have a drag show coming
up at Main Street Music.
- Hello.
We're doing a drag show.
- We're having a drag show just
around the corner, all ages.
We'd love to have you
come out if you're free.
- Our big final show,
she's booked.
- Our big final show,
she's booked.
We're making an
amazing show that
is appropriate for children.
Now what we want to do is tell
the people of Murfreesboro
they can come too.
they can come too.
- We don't want this to
just be for the q*eer people
who we know will show up.
This needs to be for the
people who are resistant.
- Being a military member, I've
been to so many drag shows.
- Being a military member, I've
been to so many drag shows.
- That's right.
They always have drag shows.
- Thailand, Korea, Japan.
- Oh, nice.
Those are some of the best
drag shows in the world.
- Yeah.
- We're doing a drag
show on August 11.
- We're doing a drag
show on August 11.
- No, thank you.
- No, thank you?
- No, thank you.
- Drag show on 11th if
you would like to come.
No, thanks?
- No, we'll pass.
Thank you.
- We're Christians.
- Yeah.
- We're Protestants.
- We're Christians.
We're Protestants.
- We're Christians.
We're Protestants.
We believe that God
made us man and woman,
and that's what we believe.
- That's it.
God doesn't make mistakes.
That's the way I look at it.
- The people of
Murfreesboro, for them
- The people of
Murfreesboro, for them
to see us smiling and
laughing and having fun
and to see that we're
normal and we're
willing to say, hey,
come to the show,
it's going to be a good time--
it's going to be a good time--
- All ages are welcome.
So we'd love--
- But if you're creating
buzz about something
and people are talking
about it, then guess what?
More eyeballs.
What's the escalation of that?
Anybody could walk by, call
the cops, arrest us all,
Anybody could walk by, call
the cops, arrest us all,
shut the event down,
and then what?
So there's always a risk here.
- Thank you so much.
Are you going to
be able to come?
- Maybe.
- Maybe?
Please join us.
It'll be super fun.
It'll be super fun.
- Promoting a drag
show feels very scary.
Being q*eer, we've been
here the entire time
people have existed.
And we've always been a target.
And we've always been a target.
If we want to be accepted for
who we are, we have
to stand up and be seen.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- One Tennessee city has
a new rule on the books
regarding public decency.
- Police officer
absolutely has the right
to make the determination
that's indecent.
to make the determination
that's indecent.
I'm taking care of that.
- We're starting to
cause a little noise.
And we hear some
rumblings that some
of this anti-trans
and anti-drag discussion
of this anti-trans
and anti-drag discussion
is happening at city
council meetings.
- That decency ordinance
is unconstitutional.
- Whenever you have
minors involved,
there is a different threshold.
- p*rn*graphy, you know
it when you see it.
- p*rn*graphy, you know
it when you see it.
- So we feel like
we need to show up--
- Welcome to the Murfreesboro
City Council meeting.
It's August 3, 6:00.
- --and hear who
speaks out against
drag and who speaks for it.
drag and who speaks for it.
- Lord, help us
make decisions that
are fitting to our community,
Lord, that are fitting to you.
Give us guidance and wisdom.
And, Lord, let us make these
decisions today in your name.
And, Lord, let us make these
decisions today in your name.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
[tense music]
[indistinct chatter]
[indistinct chatter]
- I wish that Norm could
show up with us in drag
and speak as a
Murfreesboro resident.
- Hello.
- Sorry.
- He can represent that
more clearly than anyone.
- He can represent that
more clearly than anyone.
- Excuse me.
- But he wants nothing to
do with the city council.
He's actually afraid for us.
He's actually afraid for us.
- All right.
My name is Tammy Kelly,
and I'm a resident here
in Murfreesboro.
I just want to take the time
to thank all the members
tonight that have
continued to hear
the voice of this community.
the voice of this community.
- Uh-oh.
- There's a minority group
of people who may want to do
away with this word "decency."
But it's not what the majority
of the people
in this community want.
in this community want.
And what we have
always considered
adult entertainment
is now trying to push this
in front of our children.
- Last time I was
able to speak,
I asked you, Mr. MacFarlane,
how banning the only community
I asked you, Mr. MacFarlane,
how banning the only community
organizers available
to the LGBT in this town
was not h*m*.
And I was met
with silence in response.
- Your silence showed me that
that decision was h*m*.
[applause]
- All right.
- First off, I want to say
thank you for your dedication
in protecting our community and
passing the community decency
and standards ordinance.
As a 16-year-old,
it is mind boggling to me
As a 16-year-old,
it is mind boggling to me
that we have to pass laws to
say that children shouldn't be
reading sexually
explicit content,
that sexual acts shouldn't
be performed in public
and in front of children.
and in front of children.
But here we are
in 2023, where we
have grown men acting
out sexual acts
right in front of children.
And our educational system
is allowing children
to read pornographic content.
And we have immoral
people in leadership
And we have immoral
people in leadership
that cannot tell
you the difference
between a man and a woman.
I know many will attack me
for bringing God and religion
into the equation,
but quite frankly,
into the equation,
but quite frankly,
the LGBTQ rainbow movement
is a religious cult.
They worship their own bodies.
They worship their hedonism.
They bow to the God
of relativism.
Just like I worship
the God of the Bible,
Just like I worship
the God of the Bible,
they worship their sin
and sexual immorality.
- No.
- They have branded themselves
as a civil rights issue,
saying that they
were born that way.
This is an insult to the
Civil Rights movement.
This is an insult to the
Civil Rights movement.
Humans are born
different colors,
but we're not born g*y,
l*sbian, or transgender,
or heterosexual.
Sexual morality is a choice.
And saying someone was
born g*y is like saying
And saying someone was
born g*y is like saying
a married man that's
cheating on his wife
was born an adulterer.
Many will claim
I'm a h*m*,
a bigot, or hateful--
- You are.
- --for what I'm saying.
But you cannot change your sex.
But you cannot change your sex.
So I stand before you
all out of complete love
and compassion,
because the most hateful
thing you could do to an entire
generation is to lie to them.
Thank you, and God bless.
Thank you, and God bless.
- Boo!
[applause]
Boo.
You are lying.
- Absolutely not.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
- Wow.
That is pure hate.
- Brainwashed.
- Pure hate.
- The dad put his
daughter up there.
- That is not Christianity.
He told her exactly
what to say.
He told her exactly
what to say.
- Yeah.
- He probably wrote it for her.
- He did.
♪ ♪
- [sighs]
- Thank you.
Oh my God, thank you so much.
- Thank you.
Oh my God, thank you so much.
- Hello.
- Hello.
- As we heard
expressed, there are
people who feel that
anything affiliated
with the LGBTQ
community is sexualized.
with the LGBTQ
community is sexualized.
- Yeah, absolutely.
- Yeah, of course.
- Yeah, absolutely.
- Yeah, of course.
How shall we approach them?
- I don't know.
- Yeah.
- All right.
- Here we go.
[soft music]
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
[bright tone]
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04x02 - Tennessee, Part 2
Watch/Buy Amazon
Featuring former Drag Race contestants, documenting the drag queens as they travel across the United States to recruit small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows.
Featuring former Drag Race contestants, documenting the drag queens as they travel across the United States to recruit small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows.