LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Andrew Schaftlein started drag in 2020 after his kids were born. He said he wanted to be "the Martha Stewart of Drag."
Schaftlein performs under the stage name May O'Nays, even marketing his business on packets of mayo. Sometimes his performances are cooking instructions, but he also does puppet shows.
A recent set of twin bills seeking to shield kids from sexually explicit content includes language that could affect him, because the bill doesn't narrowly define what a sexually explicit drag performance is. He took those concerns to state Senator Lindsey Tichenor in Frankfort after calling for a meeting with her and Representative Nancy Tate.
"The drag queens like myself who are signing up to do Drag Queen Story Time, to do beer and hymns with people of faith, we are not out there to do sexual material because we understand our role as community members," Schaftlein said.
The bill would ban sexually explicit drag performances within 933 feet—about 1 city block—from any park, church, or school. It provides a legal avenue for state or county attorneys, and residents, to file civil suits against businesses suspected of hosting a lewd show.
"Where this bill falls apart is the second we try to describe what is sexual, it can go anywhere," the drag queen said. "For some people, any sort of drag is sexually explicit."
On Sunday, he held a benefit show at his kids' preschool to remodel the playground.
"I got four lovely drag queens to give their time on a Sunday. We performed for like 110 people and raised $6,000 dollars," he said. He's worried the bill could give people a way to push him out of venues like those.
But the senator insists performances like Schaftlein's would still be allowed in those places.
"This is not to limit drag," Tichenor said. "This is not to limit access to adult content. It is strictly to keep children away from sexually explicit content."
Schaftlein isn't sure where the next steps are, but speculates it starts with more conversation.
"I think we have an opportunity to sit down again and hash this out some more and see what comes next," he said.
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