For 20 years, Lubbock’s First Friday Art Trail has been one of the few things that makes downtown feel alive — food trucks, live music, art, and even the occasional dog in a tutu. But apparently, that was just too much joy for City Council. In July, they yanked $25,600 in hotel tax funds from the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA), after councilman David Glasheen claimed the money was being used to “promote drag shows.” Spoiler: it wasn’t.
Artists and residents pushed back hard. Over 60 people spoke at the next council meeting, most passionately defending the event. Attendees snapped their fingers when applause was banned, one speaker wished a haunting on council members, and others pointed out that the city happily hosts gun and knife shows featuring hate group merch at the Civic Center without batting an eye. But hey, drag queens are apparently the real threat to public morality.
Mayor Mark McBrayer tried to assure everyone they’re not “anti-art,” referencing Buddy Holly like some kind of cultural Get Out of Jail Free card. Meanwhile, the big compromise was tossing LHUCA a measly $5,000 for security — basically hush money to keep cops on hand while the council pats itself on the back for “supporting art.”
Only in Lubbock can city leaders gut arts funding over phantom drag queens while bragging about Buddy Holly. Maybe next month they’ll defund the Civic Center for being “too stabby.”
https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/15/lubbock-art-trail-drag-show-council-vote
