Black drag performance drawing democrats praised, almost all Republican boycott

Salem, Ore. (Katu) – A black drag performance on the floor of Oregon House received mixed response from state representatives on Wednesday.

Artists Isaiah Eskwire and Aqua Flora closed Wednesday's floor session as they danced through the corridors of the House Chamber. Several state Democrats clapped the two artists.

“Generally, colleagues, we do not appreciate during the performance, but there are times when I think the exceptions are appropriate,” Speaker Pro Tempor David Gomberg, D-District 10, after performance.

State rape. Travis Nelson, D-Ne Portland, invited artists, who were first openly American members of the LGBTQ African US House of Representatives. Nelson House is a sponsor of Consentant Resolution 3, which respects the history of Black Drag in Oregon.

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Nelson said that he wanted the cultural and artistic contribution of Black Drag Queens in Oregon to pay attention during the month of Gaurav. He said that he originally pursues resolution during the Black History month, but plans fell.

“This resolution was something that was really important to me,” Nelson said. “We make a lot of resolutions in this building. Rarely we accept the contribution of the people of the LGBTQ community, and I have never known any legislature in the country to recognize the contribution of drag Queens.”

The performance received a permanent ovation from MPs who were present. Only one state Republican, rape. Cyrus Javadi, R-District 32, stayed at his desk for performance. Javadi spoke in support of resolution after the performance.

“I support the spirit of this resolution because it confirms no matter who you are, or what you believe, you matter and you welcome here,” Javadi said.

Other states Republicans either leave the chamber for performance or were sitting behind the room. The proposal passed the Oregon House by 34–9 votes, with all the votes cast by Republican, except Javadi and representative Kevin Manics, R-District 21.

House Minority Leader Rape. Christine Dharman, R-Canby, issued the following statements:

Yesterday's sick-hearted performance broke our chamber protocols and standards to open ceremonies at the Oregon House of Representatives. Turning the floor of the house into a smokey bar is under the dignity of this body. The opening ceremony is not time or place for the hypocritical performances of political symbols and social activism.

State rape. Dwayne Yankar, R-Grant Pass, has been vocal against the performance. In a series of social media posts on X, Yankar wrote that the performance was “complete waste of taxpayer's money”.

“I am not sure that the founding father has converted the taxpayer-funded legislative chambers into platforms for political theater. The house floor is for serious debate, law enacting and serving all Oregonians, not party-boggling glasses designed to carry forward the cultural agenda.”

Nelson laughed the idea that the artists were paid with a taxpayer dollar. He said that the artists participating in the opening ceremony do so without receiving any compensation from the Oregon Legislature.

Nelson said, “I don't know where he was coming from. There was no taxpayer associated with it.”

Yankar issued the following statement to Katu:

Yesterday Democrats Stunts – Given a salty drag performance in front of children in our beautiful House Chamber gallery – a shameful performance of the political theater, which insulted the dignity of the institution and the severity of the work, which Oregonians expect us to do it.

Nelson said that two of his Republican colleagues approached him before the demonstration, he said he respects his right to perform but was morally opposing the performance in the chamber.

Nelson said, “It is really sad for me that in 2025 we still have people who do not see the value, it does not see the contribution that the people of the LGBTQ community make in our state.”

Nelson dismissed the idea that it was a waste of time for MPs, indicating that the MPs spent a lot of time to discuss Oregon's official stake a day earlier.

Nelson said, “I think it was arguing close to an hour that Oregon's official stake had to make a T-bone stake, and it did not have any kind of backlash, and no one said anything about it.”