Congressman George Santos, who was elected last year despite fabricating nearly every aspect of his resume, implied the authenticity of a photo showing him dressed in drag by saying he was “young and [had] fun at a festival.” Nevertheless, he denied being a drag queen, which Brazillian drag artist Eula Rochard, who initially sparked the controversy by sharing Santos’ drag name on Twitter, confirmed: “He did not have what it takes to be a professional. George did not have the glamor for that.” Congressman Santos also sparred on Twitter with RuPaul’s Drag Race: All-Stars winner Trixie Mattel, calling her acting skills “weak.” Mattel read back, “I am not an actor! I was young and I had fun at a festival.”
Citing his Russian Orthodox religious faith, Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov protested his team’s Pride Night by declining to participate in pregame warmups. The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill of Moscow has encouraged resistance to so-called western influence and called Putin’s invasion of Ukraine a justified crusade against LGBTQ rights, given Ukraine’s relatively tolerant approach to queer life.
Beyoncé fans were split over her decision to perform a concert in Dubai, due to the United Arab Emirates’ abysmal record on LGBTQ+ rights. Beyonce’s most recent album, Renaissance, draws heavily on LGBTQ+ culture, and specifically from the ballroom scene. The longtime ally and icon of the gay community was reportedly paid $24 million dollars for the performance. The Beyhive defended their queen, noting that critics have no issue with Beyoncé performing in the United States, where a record 185 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been introduced in 2023.