Drag Queens and Small Towns (Orange County, VA pop. 37,188)

It is often surprising for many to learn that Lynchburg, VA (the home of Liberty University) had a progressive Democratic majority on our city council for about a decade. Like all things, it eventually came to an end. This era was partially responsible for the public investment in the restoration of the historic theatre at the Academy Center of the Arts and the downtown renaissance in development and public investment. In November of 2022, a group of Republicans swept the available at-large bids on the back of a national election. Our City Council flipped, resulting in a 5 to 2 conservative majority.

Now, politics is complex, and Republican and Democratic affiliations are motivated by various factors. I don't believe all our Republican Council Members are the same, nor do they prioritize the same issues. In small communities, it's important to consider each local politician on a case-by-case basis. It's unhelpful to simply put local officials into narrow political boxes. We produce the arts to build bridges and bring people together, so it's crucial not to alienate anyone in our community without cause.

However, the change in Lynchburg has been loud and scary because one of the new Republicans is associated with a radical element of the conservative right. This individual is greatly aggrieved and is employing a national playbook that incites online communities and sparks newspaper headlines. Smaller communities across America are deeply affected by this, ripping them apart. If you follow national news, you'll find this playbook familiar. It attacks members of the trans community, ambiguously defines CRT (critical race theory), and uses cultural activities as flashpoints for its cause. Often, it targets local drag shows, libraries, public programs centered around race, and high school theatre as part of its cultural blitzkrieg.

This recently happened in our community of Lynchburg, during a high school production of "The Prom." The irony of the attack on this production was intense. If you're unfamiliar with the musical, I encourage you to do a quick Google search and read its plotline. In response, our radical right wing council member wrote a letter asking for the superintendent of the local schools to resign over the production. Personally, I wrote a letter of response to the editor of our local newspaper.

Here is a short excerpt:

“The arts have long been a means of exploring difficult topics. While some may find the content of “The Prom” to be offensive, it is important to remember that art is meant to be thought-provoking and spark conversation. It is through these conversations that we can learn and grow as individuals and as a community.”

Around the same time, just up the road from us in Orange, Virginia, a battle was occurring between its town council and the Arts Center in Orange. Read about the issue here. I have firsthand knowledge of this conflict because I serve on the Virginians for the Arts board with their President, Ed Harvey. I thought this would be a perfect podcast conversation, so I reached out to Ed and the Arts Center in Orange's Executive Director, Anna Pillow.

In an episode of Small Town Big Arts we recorded (Season 1, Episode 11, release date June 1st), there are some clear takeaways I would like to share for our smaller community arts facilitators.

1. Firstly, it is important not to label these political attacks as solely "Republican." Those responsible for such attacks represent a loud but small fringe element. They are not as big or as unified as you might think.

2. Remember that the individuals attacking you or those in your community likely do not attend your events, participate in your activities, or contribute to your cause. While it can be frightening to have people calling for your banning or cancellation, the reality is that they probably do not hold much sway over those in your community who support you. In fact, their behavior often stems from being disconnected from any real community networks.

3. Furthermore, when you are attacked, it often galvanizes people around you. Most of the time, what is being said or what you are being accused of is false, and it becomes apparent that it is masked homophobia or racism. For instance, in Orange, the radical element kept mentioning the grooming of children, implying child molestation. However, the nature of the course being taught by a local drag queen was not sexual in nature and was not intended for children. The supporters of the Arts Center in Orange were well aware of this. Trust that love and truth will prevail in the end.

4. The Arts Center in Orange did experience a loss of some public funding during this ordeal. Losing funding is disheartening, but it is advisable not to rely on public funding in a community where such actions are taking place. The loss of funding will not destroy you. As we discussed in the podcast, the most hurtful part was the symbolism. You want to believe that your local government supports the power of the arts, but even if they don't, your community likely still does. You can make up for this loss in funds in the private sector, and in fact, the attacks may even rally your community around you, as they did for the Arts Center in Orange.

5. Be brave and continue delivering the arts to open minds. Anna Pillow, from the Arts Center in Orange, spoke about culture and our often limited ability to see our own because it is the water we swim in. It is essential for personal and community growth to not only discover other cultures but also awaken to our own. This is critical at a moment when America is trying to figure out its values and where to go from here. I may be naive, but I truly believe we will get through this moment with our eyes more open and our horizons expanded, largely thanks to the arts.

6. Stay positive and engaged in your community. The other day, I overheard someone expressing a desire to leave Lynchburg because of the changes in our city council. This seemed premature to me, given how recent the shift in public rhetoric from our local council is. I'm not suggesting that someone should stay in an abusive community in the long term, but I also think we often overlook the positive aspects surrounding us. Moreover, at this early stage of a political shift, granting too much power and credit to a group of people who are not as influential as they want you to believe is too reactive. You do know they want you to leave, correct? It is your community too. The individual threatening to leave was surrounded by a group of people in Lynchburg who support them, their identity, and their political views. Lynchburg is an evolving community finding its way. If you leave at the first sign of internet trolls getting louder, you've surrendered before the real battle even begins. There may come a time to leave your community, and I'm not denying that, but stick it out long enough to learn the true character of where you live in the face of providing meaningful and bridge-building activities in the arts.