Lizzo spoke up for LGBTQ+ people when she kicked off the second leg of The Special Tour in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday. The 34-year-old singer stood onstage and vehemently spoke up against the state’s recent legislation, which prohibits “adult cabaret performance on public property or in a location where the adult cabaret performance could be viewed by a person who is not an adult.” The bill notably impacts drag queens and performers.
Lizzo said many people told her not to perform in Tennessee because of the controversial bill, but she decided this is the place where she is needed most.
“Why would I not come to the people who need to hear this message the most?” Lizzo said to the crowd. “What people are doing in Tennessee is giving hope, so thank you so much for standing up for your rights, protecting each other, and holding the people accountable who should be protecting us.”
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The “Good as Hell” singer invited a group of drag performers onstage as she continued to take a stance against the bill, Insider reported. Lizzo, who was sporting a sparkly emerald green dress, took a bow while the drag queens performed around her.
The drag queens who performed onstage included former RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kandy Muse, Vanessa Vanjie Mateo and Jaidynn Diore Fierce.
Lizzo shares new photo with #DragRace alum Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, Kandy Muse, Asia O’Hara, and Aquaria from her show in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/67KFwrQvK4
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) April 22, 2023
performing with @lizzo in front of a sold out show of 18,000 ✅
— KANDY MUSE (@TheKandyMuse) April 22, 2023
Gov. Bill Lee signed the controversial Tennessee House Bill 0009 in March.
