(Tribune News Service) — Pentagon officials have canceled an upcoming drag event at Nellis Air Force Base in Southern Nevada, even though the family-friendly show had been previously approved by the Air Force.
“Drag-u-Nellis,” first hosted at the base in 2021, brought Las Vegas-based drag performers — including former “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants — to participate in the evening event to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month while promoting diversity and inclusivity.
This year, the show was scheduled to take place at the Nellis Club Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Las Vegas drag superstars Coco Montrese, Lawanda Jackson and Carnie Asada were announced as headliners.
But according to NBC News, Defense Department leaders have now shut down the idea, telling Air Force officials to cancel the event, saying it’s not Pentagon policy to fund drag performances on bases.
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in late March, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida, questioned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, about drag story hours being hosted on bases in the U.S. and abroad.
Both men responded saying they didn’t “agree with those.”
When Milley was informed about “Drag-u-Nellis” this week, he became visibly upset, according to NBC News.
An Air Force official later confirmed the show had been canceled.
“Consistent with Secretary Austin’s congressional testimony, the Air Force will not host drag events at its installations or facilities,” the official said. “Commanders have been directed to either cancel or relocate these events to an off-base location.”
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(U.S. Air Force)
