Boygenius Perform Nashville Show in Drag, Protest Tennessee Governor Bill Lee

Photo by Bobby Kelly

[Pitchfork]

“I would like you to scream so loud that Governor Lee can hear you,” Julien Baker said

By Matthew Ismael Ruiz and Allison Hussey

Boygenius have added their voices to the masses speaking out against Tennessee’s recent anti-drag legislation. At the Nashville stop of the traveling Re:Set mini-festival, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker donned drag makeup and costumes in protest against the legislation, which Tennessee’s governor, Bill Lee, signed at the beginning of March. See photos from the concert below.

“Today, I’m so grateful for my life, not because I get to stand onstage with my best friends… but because I’m content with the person that I am,” said Baker, a Tennessee native, from the stage. “I have a lot of anger for the people that have made me feel small, and feel erased. And I’ve found it’s a really powerful and humiliating tool to make those people fuck off. I would like you to scream so loud that Governor Lee can hear you.” The trio then led the crowd in a “Fuck Bill Lee” chant.

The anti-drag bill, the first state law designed to place strict limits on drag shows, was ruled unconstitutional earlier this month by a federal judge. The bill has attracted heated criticism from many musicians. Yo La Tengo and singer-songwriter James McMurtryhave both worn drag on stage in recent months, after a massive benefit concert welcomed Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Hayley Williams, and more to raise money for LGBTQ-oriented nonprofits back in March. At their show, Boygenius continued their bit by sharing their drag names: Queef Urban (Bridgers), Lucille Balls (Dacus), and Shanita Tums (Baker).

Boygenius recently played a cover of Dan Reeder’s “Stay Down, Man” during a SiriusXMU session. During their Coachella set in April, the group made a point to tell the crowd “trans lives matter, trans kids matter,” and “…abortion rocks. And fuck Ron DeSantis.”