Downtown Houston Hamburger Mary’s drag brunch draws protesters

HOUSTON — Protesters and counter-protesters confirmed up in downtown Houston on Sunday, every group on reverse sides of the aisle over a difficulty that has lately been within the headlines: drag exhibits.

Despite the intense warmth, the teams confirmed up at Hamburger Mary’s on Prairie Street to make their stances recognized.

Temperatures and pressure have been operating excessive as they lined the streets close to the restaurant that advertised a Sunday drag brunch on its website.

There was a heavy police presence and about 150 individuals confirmed up.

Protect Texas Kids was among the many teams protesting. Each aspect consisted of a number of teams that weren’t essentially collectively, however on Sunday determined to face on the identical aspect of the difficulty.

Tracy Shannon, with Mass Resistance Texas, was there in opposition to the themed brunch.

“We know that we don’t want a drag queen for instance to youngsters or to point out youngsters what inclusion appears to be like like. We don’t market sure issues to youngsters,” Shannon stated.

Others voiced assist for inclusion.

“Freedom … freedom of expression, freedom to be who you are. Freedom to not be intimidated by anybody,” one other attendee stated.

KHOU 11 political skilled Bob Stein stated the social situation has turned political.

“Parents can take their children wherever they want. They have privacy over their behavior with it in some broad guideline,” Stein said. “Very much like the politics of abortion, of guns, or even something as simple as wearing a mask … it does mobilize people in serious political debate.”

Stein stated it’s potential laws might emerge that’s just like different age-restricted legal guidelines — like shopping for alcohol or tobacco.

“That kind of regulation is subject to the public’s support and it’s conceivable that we will ban children under the age of — pick an age 21, 18 — from going to these drag shows,” Stein stated.

According to Stein, the larger image is the social situation itself.

“The existence that we’re speaking about will not be going away. They’re turning into extra mainstream,” he stated.

Someone from contained in the restaurant stated there was no organized protest for or in opposition to the occasion. They stated it was finished on-line.

Police officers ended up stepping in a couple of instances when issues received heated.