Maren Morris at the Love Rising benefit (Photo: Instagram)
Maren Morris is the straight ally, and bad-ass mom, we need right now.
The Texan-born, 32-year-old country singer was one of the performers who appeared Monday at the Love Rising benefit concert at Bridgestone Arena, Nashville.
The event was arranged in protest of Tennessee lawmakers recently passing a ban on drag in public spaces. Others to appear included Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Paramore’s Hayley Williams and Hozier, among others. Proceeds went to local LGBTQ+ advocacy groups.
On stage, Morris spoke out against the current culture war waged against drag performers. Far-right activists have blasted drag queens as “groomers” and pushed for legislation banning drag queen story hours and family-friendly brunch events.
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Morris, 32, talked about bringing her two-year-old son, Hayes Andrew, along to the soundcheck earlier in the day. She took him to the drag queen’s changing room and he was blown away by how colorful and stimulating it all was.
Talking to the audience, she said, “He freaked out when he went in there. Because it’s just magic what drag queens do. There’s wigs everywhere, the smell of hairspray and wig glue, there’s glitter, everyone’s in a good mood, they’re so excited to be here tonight for this show. It’s just like a room of love.”
“And going back to my dressing room, and my son is like, ‘I need the queens’!”
The Texan-born singer went on to dare authorities to act: “Yes, I introduced my son to some drag queens today, so Tennessee, f*cking arrest me.”
“Equality for everybody, or nobody’s really equal.”
Morris performed several songs at the concert, including “The Middle,” which she sang with drag performer Alexia Noelle Paris. She later shared the video to her Instagram stories and also posted photos from the show to her Instagram.
In a story, she said she purposefully wore a suit, “to demonstrate the subjectivity of drag and gender expression.”
“There’s a reason we feel powerful in a suit, but why? Is it out tinges of both the feminine and masculine being on public display? Is it just more comfortable than a dress? Or is it just hot and makes you feel like a damn superhero?”
Drag performer Alexia Noelle Paris was among those to praise Morris for her contribution to the night.
“LOVE RISING was the energy and mood we needed! I’m over the moon with the joy and kindness of everyone involved! @marenmorris you are a gem and this was a night to remember!”
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I hate that queer people have had their rights pulled into this vortex of political distraction.
While the GOP is shrieking about people transitioning, or people watching drag shows, Flint still doesn’t have a safe water supply. East Palestine is still contaminated. We’re still not doing anywhere near enough to reduce GHG emissions, and there’s a global banking crisis despite bailing out SVB depositors.
Yes, the right to perform drag or medically transition are very important. But the disingenuous nature of American politics tells me that the media attention is focused on this topic because it’s less complex than any of the aforementioned issues.
We live in the outrage economy, where engagement is the only thing that matters, because that’s what justifies charging high prices for internet advertising while simultaneously making money from selling user browsing data.
And we all hate that you are so effing clueless you don’t get that drag/trans are the first but BY NO MEANS THE LAST PEOPLE the N*zis are coming for!
Beeyotch, please. Are you so stupid you don’t know how many of the SCROTUS Xtofascists lied their asses off about effing STARE DECISIS in Roe v. Wade?!?!?!? Are you delusional enough to think they don’t want the FOURTH REICH OF GILEAD?
If more people do not GET outraged and stay that way, Gilead is where amurriKKKa will end up!
It is nice to see Ru putting in so so much effort into fighting these anti drag anti LGBTQ bills, I mean between collecting Drag Con checks from us and Drag Rave checks from whatever channel will buy DR I mean it’s git to be SOSO SO draining on @rupaul to do so many shows and performances too and let’s not talk about all of those PSA’s the bitch…….hasn’t done, yeah the bitch with the biggest megaphone is out there working tirelessly to protect our rights to pay to see the show he and well Michelle actually does more screen time doesn’t she…lolol
It’s astonishing to see the lurid, edgy, sex bomb diva drag queens I remember lipsyncing at gay nightclubs suddenly transformed into Kitty Fairy Purr-ific Storybook Plush Toys for Kids Ages 2 And Up.
Both groups can exist. “Drag” isn’t defined by an age group. “Drag” just means costume. So there are R-rated shows and PG-13 and G.
Also notable: Some of these bills would also ban drag at Pride events, which are often outdoors. They won’t allow someone to walk down the street. That’s not any age range, it’s just walking.
In case you haven’t noticed, Drag Queens are and have been active and organizing forever. While most of us were giving a few dollars here and a few hours there, Drag Queens were multi-tasking. They are the lurid, edgy, sex bomb divas you acknowledged, and also project managers for fund raising and activism. They are lovely and loving people who live fuller and more complicated lives than you give them credit for. And for some this includes Story Hour.
If you pay attention to them you’ll likely learn something.
And now the passive aggressive “just an observation” with another pathetic insult. Poor you bichy. I hope someone is ready to speak up when they come for you–because you’re certainly not.
Fiercely cheerleading Queerty articles – and nuclear bombing open discussion of the issues – is not the way to go, dbm. It’s important to realize that most people – even gay people – are not so one-dimensional, and have opinions and perspectives that do not fit so snugly into Queerty’s breathless, ideological flag-waving.
They don’t like you bichy. It’s not just drag and trans people, it’s LGB people too. They’re coming for you. Once they took down Roe they’re coming for Obergefell. They’re not stopping and anyone who thinks they wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t for story hours is just fooling themselves.
I’m curious to find out the legal definition of “Drag”. If a man dressed as a woman to perform is drag then at what point does a woman dressed in a “man’s” suit for a performance become a drag performance? Obviously, this needs to be challenged in court. I can’t see even the most conservative judge being able to justify the sexist difference between men in drag and women in suits.
There have been issues about dress codes in legislative houses, but I wonder if the notion was pushed to cover any women wearing pants? Pants are men’s clothing, or used to be. So I think they should set up cops outside of Walfart and they had better bring the BIG bus because 99%of the “women” that shop there don’t look like or dress like women. So they need to be arrested too or was there an exemptions made for cos gendered women?
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dbmcvey
Very cool! Parents should be able to choose what entertainment they allow their children to view.
(Waiting for Tallskin to post an unrelated rant).
Creamsicle
I hate that queer people have had their rights pulled into this vortex of political distraction.
While the GOP is shrieking about people transitioning, or people watching drag shows, Flint still doesn’t have a safe water supply. East Palestine is still contaminated. We’re still not doing anywhere near enough to reduce GHG emissions, and there’s a global banking crisis despite bailing out SVB depositors.
Yes, the right to perform drag or medically transition are very important. But the disingenuous nature of American politics tells me that the media attention is focused on this topic because it’s less complex than any of the aforementioned issues.
We live in the outrage economy, where engagement is the only thing that matters, because that’s what justifies charging high prices for internet advertising while simultaneously making money from selling user browsing data.
dbmcvey
So, Tallskin has a new name but the same old schtick.
bachy
@dbm: oh please, Cam, talk about a tired schtick.
dbmcvey
Hey bichy, sorry to tell you I’m not Cam. But you knew that. But you’re all up in the tallskin creamsickle anti-trans and drag sh*t.
jsmu
And we all hate that you are so effing clueless you don’t get that drag/trans are the first but BY NO MEANS THE LAST PEOPLE the N*zis are coming for!
Beeyotch, please. Are you so stupid you don’t know how many of the SCROTUS Xtofascists lied their asses off about effing STARE DECISIS in Roe v. Wade?!?!?!? Are you delusional enough to think they don’t want the FOURTH REICH OF GILEAD?
If more people do not GET outraged and stay that way, Gilead is where amurriKKKa will end up!
abfab
I’m hoping that more ”happenings” and stories like this keep flooding in.
Jim
If only RuPaul had her balls!
jsmu
You got that right. Sigh.
Beanie16
It is nice to see Ru putting in so so much effort into fighting these anti drag anti LGBTQ bills, I mean between collecting Drag Con checks from us and Drag Rave checks from whatever channel will buy DR I mean it’s git to be SOSO SO draining on @rupaul to do so many shows and performances too and let’s not talk about all of those PSA’s the bitch…….hasn’t done, yeah the bitch with the biggest megaphone is out there working tirelessly to protect our rights to pay to see the show he and well Michelle actually does more screen time doesn’t she…lolol
bachy
It’s astonishing to see the lurid, edgy, sex bomb diva drag queens I remember lipsyncing at gay nightclubs suddenly transformed into Kitty Fairy Purr-ific Storybook Plush Toys for Kids Ages 2 And Up.
dbmcvey
Hey bichy, they’re coming for you next.
jsmu
It’s astonishing to see that you love public self-mortification so much that you posted multiple times on this comments section.
bachy
Just an observation ladies, no need to get those claws out. Important to child-proof the manicure these days, no?
Brian
Both groups can exist. “Drag” isn’t defined by an age group. “Drag” just means costume. So there are R-rated shows and PG-13 and G.
Also notable: Some of these bills would also ban drag at Pride events, which are often outdoors. They won’t allow someone to walk down the street. That’s not any age range, it’s just walking.
LeBlevsez
bachy –
In case you haven’t noticed, Drag Queens are and have been active and organizing forever. While most of us were giving a few dollars here and a few hours there, Drag Queens were multi-tasking. They are the lurid, edgy, sex bomb divas you acknowledged, and also project managers for fund raising and activism. They are lovely and loving people who live fuller and more complicated lives than you give them credit for. And for some this includes Story Hour.
If you pay attention to them you’ll likely learn something.
Beanie16
Hey bachy you keep thinking that way and you’ll have a new name soon..KAPO…look it up…traitor
dbmcvey
And now the passive aggressive “just an observation” with another pathetic insult. Poor you bichy. I hope someone is ready to speak up when they come for you–because you’re certainly not.
bachy
Fiercely cheerleading Queerty articles – and nuclear bombing open discussion of the issues – is not the way to go, dbm. It’s important to realize that most people – even gay people – are not so one-dimensional, and have opinions and perspectives that do not fit so snugly into Queerty’s breathless, ideological flag-waving.
And that’s ok. In fact, it’s probably a strength.
dbmcvey
@bichy
They don’t like you bichy. It’s not just drag and trans people, it’s LGB people too. They’re coming for you. Once they took down Roe they’re coming for Obergefell. They’re not stopping and anyone who thinks they wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t for story hours is just fooling themselves.
Also, you’re projecting.
Openminded
I’m curious to find out the legal definition of “Drag”. If a man dressed as a woman to perform is drag then at what point does a woman dressed in a “man’s” suit for a performance become a drag performance? Obviously, this needs to be challenged in court. I can’t see even the most conservative judge being able to justify the sexist difference between men in drag and women in suits.
dbmcvey
In the past they were both illegal.
Beanie16
There have been issues about dress codes in legislative houses, but I wonder if the notion was pushed to cover any women wearing pants? Pants are men’s clothing, or used to be. So I think they should set up cops outside of Walfart and they had better bring the BIG bus because 99%of the “women” that shop there don’t look like or dress like women. So they need to be arrested too or was there an exemptions made for cos gendered women?
ScottOnEarth
This comment thread is such a great snapshot of the LGTBQ “community” – thoroughly bitchy, intolerant, childish and hateful.
abfab
Of which you are now officially part of, Scott.